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Being "a part of" rather than "apart from."

obormottel Friday, 26 May 2017

Rav Chaim Shmulevitz says in Sichos Mussar that we can learn a tremendous lesson from the fact that the Levi'im were counted separately. Rashi says (1:49) that H'shm foresaw that He would decree death against the 20- to 60-year-olds that were counted in this week's parsha and He wanted to count the levi'im separately so they shouldn't be tangled up in the decree. We see from this that when there is a gezairo against the tzibur it doesn't matter if people are righteous, there's no differentiation made and everyone is given the same treatment as the tzibbur.

He goes on to say that the opposite is true as well. When Elisha offered to daven specifically for the 'shunamis woman' on Rosh Hashono, she answered that she'd rather stay with the tzibbur cause she would be judged with the whole tzibbur for the good instead of being scrutinized personally (Melachim 2: 4:13).

The whole world is chasing shmutz and if we stay as part of that tzibur we will c'v risk being punished with the midas hadin that doesn't differentiate between good and bad people. But conversely, if we're part of GYE, then not only are we surrounding ourselves by positive influences, we are also joining the tzibbur which is clocking up more zechusim than we can even imagine!!

May H'shm give us the koach and the ability to wholeheartedly move our allegiance over to the right tzibur!!!