Page 18 - HaMizrachi #8 Pesach

Mizrachi in Israel's National Institutions

Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman

jewish unity

aroun� the world

he expression ב ֵ ל ְּ ב ד ָ ח ֶ א ׁשי ִ א ְּ כ mitzvah of “And you shall love your educational material, including a
ד ָ ח ֶ א, “as one person with one neighbor as yourself” – that Am Yisrael Children’s Haggadah translated into 22
T heart,” appears in Rashi’s is one soul divided into many bodies. It languages! The purpose of the Haggadah
comment to the verse ד ֶ ג ֶנ ל ֵ א ָ ר ְ ׂשִי ם ָ ׁש ן ַ חִּי ַ ו is just that the differences of opinion, is to bring the Pesach story to life for
ר ָ ה ָ ה, “and Israel encamped there by the the arguments and the complaints cause children and to allow them to feel part of
mountain” (Exodus 19:2). us not to be of one heart. It was only at the evening’s proceedings and to follow
Mount Sinai that we reached the ideal the reading in their own language.
The famous question is why did the situation, in which we were of one heart
Torah use the singular ן ַ חִּי ַ ו and not the as well. The Center for Religious Affairs also
plural ּונ ֲ ח ַי ָ ו? Rashi explains that through runs seminars for rabbis, encouraging
their 40 years in the desert, Bnei Yisrael It was different with the Egyptians. They leaders from small and distant
had arguments, differences of opinion, are not “as one person.” When they were communities to become familiar with
and objections to their leadership. But chasing Bnei Yisrael they had a mutual the latest halachic and educational
here, as they stand by Mount Sinai, ready goal, which united them – as one heart – developments and solutions, as well as
to receive the Torah, they are united, as and so for that moment they became as enriching their knowledge and toolbox.
one person with one heart. one person to achieve their aim. And we also organize an annual world

Interestingly, this expression does not Nowadays, in the age of our small Jewish leaders’ convention in Jerusalem
appear in the Mishna, the Talmud or global village, in which assimilation attended by community rabbis from over
the Midrash. It is a phrase coined by and intermarriage rates are high and 40 countries.
Rashi that he indeed uses again, slightly increasing, and many young Jews are Engaged in many projects on a daily
differently, in another context. leaving the fold and the tradition of their basis all year round, our people work
ancestors, Seder night is an opportunity
As the Jews are fleeing Egypt and for community heads, spiritual leaders on the assumption that the Jewish
approaching the Red Sea, the verse says: and of course parents, to strengthen the holidays are the strongest opportunity
ם ֶ הי ֵ ר ֲ ח ַ א ע ַ ס ָנ םִי ַ ר ְ צ ִ מ ה ֵּנ ִ ה ְ ו ...בי ִ ר ְ ק ִ ה ּ הֹע ָ ר ְ פּו, Jewish family unit around the world, “as for reinforcing the connection between
“and Pharaoh drew near and behold one person with one heart.” Diaspora Jewry and Jewish tradition,
Egypt was traveling after them” (Exodus and for nurturing unity and solidarity
14:10). Again, the word ע ַ ס ָנ traveling, is The Center for Religious Affairs in with the State of Israel and with Jews all
in the singular, and if Pharaoh and the the Diaspora in the World Zionist over the world, “as one person with one
Egyptians are chasing it should say ּוע ְ ס ָנ Organization, based in Jerusalem, is in heart.”
in the plural. Again, Rashi comments close and constant contact with rabbis
ד ָ ח ֶ א ׁשי ִ א ְּ כ ד ָ ח ֶ א ב ֵ ל ְּ ב – the Egyptians were in hundreds of communities all over
united in their pursuit of the Jews. the world, with the aim of helping to 1 Rabbi Avraham Bornstein, the Sokatchover
strengthen Jewish-Zionist identity, Rebbe (1838-1910).
But why did Rashi reverse the words particularly among the youth. In 2 Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first
here? First ד ָ ח ֶ א ב ֵ ל ְּ ב and then ד ָ ח ֶ א ׁשי ִ א? addition, the center’s aim is to nurture Lubavitcher Rebbe (1745-1813).
the relationship with the State of Israel
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The Avnei Nezer answers that Am and emphasize its centrality to Jewish Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman is Head of the
Yisrael, by its very nature, is ד ָ ח ֶ א ׁשי ִ א ְּ כ. life in the Diaspora. Center for Religious Affairs in the Diaspora
“All of Israel are responsible for one in the World Zionist Organization and one
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another.” The Ba’al HaTanya adds – This activity occurs in many different of World Mizrachi's representatives in the
when explaining the reason for the ways, one of which is through National Institutions

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