Episode Details

 Is There Ever Enough Gold? 

We begin the Fifth book of the Torah this week, the
book of Devarim. We have mentioned many times that the Rabbis teach us that
this book made up primarily of Moshe Rabeynu’s final speech and testament was
an optional book to be included at Moses discretion. The first three portions
feature Moses narrating a brief history of the past four decades to those about
to enter the land (see our short class on Deravim, memory and Tisha BeAb). 

The opening verse is as follows:  

אֵ֣לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר
דִּבֶּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן בַּמִּדְבָּ֡ר
בָּֽעֲרָבָה֩ מ֨וֹל ס֜וּף בֵּֽין־פָּארָ֧ן וּבֵֽין־תֹּ֛פֶל וְלָבָ֥ן וַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת
וְדִ֥י זָהָֽב׃ 

These are the words that Moses addressed to all
Israel on the other side of the Jordan.—Through the wilderness, in the Arabah
near Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab, 

The Rabbis teach us that these words refer to places
and hint at where the Jews sinned in the desert. But then Moses adds one more
place, “Di Zahav.” 

Rashi explains: “In the vicinity of Di Zahav”, he
alluded to the affair of the golden calf, that due to Am Yisrael’s excessive
wealth they sinned and fashioned a calf out of gold. 

I would like to share a story and a lesson based on
the teachings of Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef ZSL as posted by Halacha Yomit which
should motivate each of us lilmod ulelamed. Not only to learn but to realize
the best path to learn is to give over what I learn, lishma, for the sake of
Heaven.  

There was once a gaon, philosopher and kabbalist,
Rebbi Yehudah Aryeh of Modena z”l (1571-1648) who has a book called “Ari Nohem”
and responsa. This gaon was graced by Hashem with a great talent for learning,
his was literally a fulfilment of the passuk, “the words of his palate are
sweet and he is all delight” [Shir HaShirim 5:16]. He lived in Venice and
during his time there was a huge bet knesset in the city which could seat a
thousand men. 

One day the gabbaim of the bet knesset came to the
rav and asked him that since they don’t have a rav who can give derashot that
he come on Shabbat to the bet knesset and give them a derashah before Musaph.
The rav replied that since the bet knesset was far from his home and he was
getting old he was unable to come and give them a derashah. The gabbaim greatly
pressured him to head to their request to come just for one Shabbat. Until the
rav was unable to withstand their pressures and he ceded to their request to
come and give them a derashah. 

On Shabbat Kodesh before Musaph the rav was honored
to stand before the whole kehillah and he gave a derashah for a full hour about
the Parashah of the week. The rav darshened and his mouth spoke pearls and
gems! The congregation made their ears receptive to hear his sweet words and
they very much enjoyed it. They were literally unaware that a whole hour had
passed!