Rav Yisrael Taub

The Shepherd's Song

His son, Rav Shaul Yedidya, related that that each day the Rebbe would ride out of Modzhitz with his companions, to stroll and breathe the fresh air.

One day, as their carriage passed through fields and pastures, they heard a shepherd singing to his flock. The Rebbe asked that the carriage be stopped at once, and he sat listening until the shepherd finished his song. Then he motioned to continue on their way.

Turning to his companions, the Rebbe said, "You must be wondering why I wanted to hear the shepherd sing. Know that when a person sings his song, it is as if he is confessing his sins. A person's song is his confession, because through it he reveals his inner essence. When anyone confesses, whoever he may be, we must stop and listen to what he says."

Music, the Avodah of the Leviim

On the pasuk "Kechu mizimras ho'oretz," the Modzitzer Rebbe cites the Kedushas Levi on the words "the songs of your servant Dovid," from Boruch She'omar before Pesukei Dezimra. Music, the Kedushas Levi teaches, is itself a form of avodah, and it was the avodah of the Leviim, who sang and played. Musical scales are called octaves, and they have levels, one above the other. Just as our love and fear of Hashem have levels and scales, so do niggunim. This, the Rebbe explains, is the meaning of "the songs of your servant Dovid."

Divrei Yisrael, Bereishis 43:11, Parshas Miketz; citing Kedushas Levi, Likkutim, s.v. uveshirei

Serve Hashem With Pride

The Modzitzer Rebbe cites the Toldos Yaakov Yosef, who explains that the pasuk "His heart was uplifted in the ways of Hashem" means serving Hashem with a feeling of pride and self-esteem: that Hashem values and esteems you. If a person keeps in mind that the entire world was created for his sake, this feeling will save him from sin. Therefore the pasuk opens Parshas Emor, "Speak to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon." The Rebbe explains that this reminds them of their lofty status, because tzaddikim tend to be humble, as Moshe and Aharon said, "What are we?" They might forget their own importance, so they are reminded of their yichus and that they were born holy. This is not to make them arrogant, but so that they will remember not to defile themselves among their people, because if they transgress, they blemish their soul.

Divrei Yisrael, Parshas Emor; citing Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Parshas Eikev (on Divrei Hayomim II 17:6)

A Gathering Place of Fools

The Mishnah says that two who sit together without words of Torah between them form a gathering of cynics. The Modzitzer Rebbe heard from the elder chassid Rav Meshulem of Plontsk that his grandfather, the Kuzhmirer Rebbe, was once a guest in Plontsk, in the home of a wealthy, learned Misnagged who asked him to say a few words at the table. The Kuzhmirer grasped the table with both hands and shoved it far away, to underscore his point. Chazal call such a place a gathering place of fools, rather than calling the people fools. The reason, he said, is that if two Torah scholars sit together and have no words of Torah to share, it must be because of the impurity of the place, since that table once served as a gathering place for fools, whose influence clings to it. The Modzitzer adds that he later found the same explanation in the name of Rav Michele of Zlotshuv.

Kelalei Oraisa, os shin (on Avos 3:3)

Torah Requires Effort

The Mishnah teaches that any Torah study that has no work together with it is destined to cease. The Modzitzer Rebbe explains that acquiring Torah requires hard work. Torah study that lacks diligence and effort in its application will eventually come to an end, as Chazal say that if someone claims he succeeded in Torah without any effort, do not believe him.

Kelalei Oraisa, os kaf (on Avos 2:2; Megillah 6b)

Remove Opposition Like Shoes From Your Feet

The Modzitzer Rebbe tells of a meeting between his grandfather, Rav Yechezkel of Kuzhmir, and Rav Nosson Duvid of Shidlovitza. At the start of his career as Rebbe, the Shidlovitzer had many detractors who made his life difficult, and he complained to the Kuzhmirer. Rav Yechezkel answered with a new reading of the Mishnah in Avos: "Beware of their fiery coals; their bite is like a fox bite, their sting like a scorpion's sting." The first letters of the Hebrew words for their bite, their sting, their venom and all their words spell na'alcha, "your shoe." This is what Hashem told Moshe, "Remove your shoes from your feet." He was telling Moshe to remove the concerns of opposition from himself, just as one removes shoes. A leader of the generation must do the same, and must not be angered or troubled by any of the four forms of opposition.

Divrei Yisrael, Shemos, s.v. shal na'alcha me'al raglecha (on Shemos 3:5 and Avos 2:10)

One Hour of Teshuvah

The Mishnah says that one hour of teshuvah in this world is better than all of the World to Come. The Modzitzer Rebbe cites his grandfather, the Kuzhmirer, who explained that an hour of teshuvah in this world, filled with inhibitions, difficulties and delays, is more precious and beautiful to Hashem than the entire coming world. The World to Come is a place of rest, like a retreat tent, where there are no troubles or difficulties.

Kelalei Oraisa, os yud (on Avos 4:17)

Torah in the Name of Its Author

The Mishnah says that whoever quotes something in the name of the one who said it brings redemption to the world. The Modzitzer Rebbe explains that this applies to one who learns Torah and recites it in the name of its Author, Hashem. He studies with the intention to know Hashem and His Name as One and Only, and this brings the Redemption to the world.

Kelalei Oraisa, os kaf (on Avos 6:6)

Daven With a Minyan for Parnassah

It is a well-known segulah for parnassah to daven with a minyan. The Divrei Yisrael taught that the curses of the Tochachah are all blessings in disguise. The curse that ten women will bake their bread in one oven, he explained, refers to ten Jewish souls, daughters of the King, who come together to bake in one oven. When ten souls warm one another and set each other aflame with excitement in communal tefillah, they are like bread, which Chazal say bakes best when the oven is full. They are also like a good stew, whose ingredients cook together and give taste and flavor to one another. Davening with a minyan is therefore a good segulah for parnassah.

Divrei Yisrael, Parshas Bechukosai