Matos: 5786 - 'Emor': When a person speaks in praise of his fellow, he awakens positive forces within him. Pesach Sheini: nothing is ever lost. Warnings about the mass ascent to Meron: how should one act this year?…

00:00 Speaker 1 Please.

00:03 Speaker 2 We have a few things today. First, Pesach Sheni. We just heard from Hayom Yom what Pesach Sheni, which is today, teaches us: nothing is ever lost. Even someone who was impure, someone who was on a distant road—even if it was by his own choice—nothing is lost. Hakadosh Boruch Hu gave him a second chance, and he can make things right. We also have Shabbos Parshas Emor; we’re reading Parshas Emor. The Rebbe explains that we learn a lesson from everything in the Torah, including the name of a parsha. What do we learn from the name Emor, “Say”? What kind of speech does it mean? Positive speech. If it meant words of Torah, we already have a specific verse: “And you shall speak of them.” So what does Emor mean? The Rebbe explains that a person should say positive things. He should speak in praise of another person, and by doing so, he awakens that person’s positive strengths. This applies to everyone. One of the qualities of a Torah scholar is that he speaks in praise of others and not at all to their detriment. Speaking in someone’s praise brings out positive things in them. We’re also already close to Lag BaOmer, the day of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s passing. There’s a debate today about whether to hold the gathering in Meron: is it dangerous or not? We have only the words of our Rebbeim to guide us. The Rebbe spoke at length about giving back territory. Is it permissible to give back territory? Some even claim that giving back territory is precisely how we’ll make peace. Who decides whether it’s permissible or forbidden? The Rebbe says: only a professional in that field. It’s like medicine. Who decides whether one may desecrate Shabbos for a sick person? If the doctor says it’s a matter of saving a life, one may desecrate Shabbos. The same applies

02:22 Speaker 2 to security. The only one who can decide is someone who is a professional in that field. If he’s a politician, he can’t decide this, even if he was once a security expert. Now he’s a politician, and he can’t determine whether or not there’s a danger to life. After all, what does section 329 of the Shulchan Aruch say? It discusses non-Jews besieging Jewish towns. Even if they came only for straw and hay, we desecrate Shabbos, go out against them with swords, and desecrate Shabbos. Why? Because lives are at stake. But who determines what constitutes a danger to life? Only someone with professional expertise. The same applies here. Yes, there’s a debate today about whether or not to hold the Lag BaOmer gathering at Mount Meron. The question is whether lives would be at risk, and who determines that? Only a professional—a security expert. If he says it’s a matter of saving lives, then it must not be held. A whole debate has arisen today. In any case, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said that he could exempt the entire world from judgment. And if his son Rabbi Elazar were with him, they could do so until the end of all generations. Rabbi Shimon is worthy of being relied upon in a time of pressing need. We have no time of greater need than our situation today: seventy wolves facing one sheep, wanting only to devour it. That is a time of great need. So we can rely on Rabbi Shimon wherever we may be. He said that—he didn’t just say it; he also saves, prays, and saves the entire world from judgment. And with Hashem’s help, may we soon merit

04:28 Speaker 2 the true and complete Geulah.

04:30 Speaker 3 Amen.