With the untimely loss of one of the most beloved leaders of our community this week, on top of the already overwhelming losses our people have suffered as of late, we need a yeshuah, we need help. 

Many of the subjects that appear in Mishpatim details, are enumerated in the order of Mishnah known as Nezikin — Damages, with the lengthier and deeper discussions recorded in the Talmudic tractates associated with them.    

The Talmud aligns this order of Mishnah with a verse in Yeshayah that refers to this body of law as ישועות — salvations.  

Rashi enlightens by stating that the study and implementations of these precepts ‘save us’ from damaging others and incurring the obligation to repay the losses. 

The Vilna Gaon parallels each of the six orders of the Mishnah, with six pointed questions, that the Talmud delineates, we will all be asked after our demise.  

The fourth question posed to us will be whether in our lifetime, צפית לישועה — we longed for the yeshuah — salvation, did we yearn for the coming of Moshiach and redemption. 

What connection is there between adhering to civil law and the redemption? Certainly, we must be worthy in order to be saved, but aren’t there many other laws that we must keep in order to be deserving of Moshiach? 

If a fire breaks out, and catches in thorns, the one who kindled the fire shall pay compensation. )Exodus 22:5) 

Rabbi Yitzchak Nappcha taught... In the verse that states: If a fire breaks out, and catches in thorns, the term ‘breaks out’ indicates that it breaks out by itself. Yet, the continuation of the verse states: The one who kindled the fire shall pay compensation, which indicates that he must pay only if the fire spread due to his negligence. The verse can be explained allegorically: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said that although the fire broke out in the Temple due to the sins of the Jewish people, it is incumbent upon Me to pay restitution for the fire that I kindled. 

I, G-d, kindled a fire in Zion, as it is stated: The Lord has accomplished His fury, He has poured out His fierce anger; and He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations )Lamentations 4:11). And I will build it with fire in the future, as it is stated: For I, says the Lord, will be for her a wall of fire round about; and I will be the glory in her midst (Zechariah 2:9). 

Bava Kamma 60b 

The image of fire often represents the Divine Presence, appearing at the Burning Bush and at the revelation at Mount Sinai. Yet, fire is also used to depict the Yezter Hora — the evil inclination. 

Fire is a most destructive force, consuming its fuel completely. But it is also a most powerful source of energy through which life is sustained and industry and development is contingent on. 

When man lives with a consciousness of His presence, a fiery Temple can descend in its entirety from heaven.  

When man pursues one’s own ambitions, detached from any divine directive, fire becomes a destructive force that can vaporize even the mightiest of entities. 

G-d takes responsibility for this dynamic double-edged energy source He bequeathed to the world. When man fails in his mission to be attentive to his role, this very entity will burn down the abode of ‘wood and stones’ that house His presence. He prevents the fire from destroying that which is essentially holy, permitting it merely to consume the physical walls that have now become bereft of His spirit, due to our failure to preserve His ‘holy fire’ within. 

Place me like a seal on your heart, liked a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, zeal is as strong as the grave; its coals are coals of fire of a great flame! Many waters cannot quench the love, nor can rivers flood it; should a man give all the property of his house for love, they would despise him. (Song of Songs 8:6) 

Fire, in any form it comes, is an expression of G-d’s passionate love for His people. Even when it must destroy, it is done to rather ‘spill His wrath upon wood and stones’, preserving their essence with the burning yearning for their return.

It is with an equal fervor that G-d threads His love within the tapestry of seeming destruction, yearning for the day He will bring down a Temple in a passionate display of his love. 

The holy Ozherover Rebbe teaches that the word ישועה is rooted in the word וישע, and G-d ‘turned his attention’. 

The vigilance not to harm someone does not stem from etiquette but rather from a deep-seated love to those who Hashem loves, yeshuah intimates closeness, because every Jew is His beloved, we must treat them in love as well... 

If we exhibit genuine concern, appreciation, and love for others we will inevitably avoid any possibility of harming another. 

The question we will be asked at the end of our lives will be whether we ‘yearned for His closeness’. It is not a question of whether we asserted a belief that salvation would come, but more importantly, did we pine to live with a sense of connection and closeness every moment of our lives. One who succeeds will certainly merit a mindful closeness to those G-d cherishes. 

Rav Sheftel Neuberger lived with a passionate connection to Hashem that was evident in his love and joy for Torah; his incessant devotion to his beloved Ner Yisroel and each talmid; to every person he encountered, whom he was sincerely interested in and sought to assist in any way he possibly could.  

He was a person who sensed Hashem’s ‘yeshuah’, even as he suffered through a difficult illness 

the past year, every moment of his life.  

He was a man ‘on fire’ all the time. 

There is no doubt he will answer this fourth question with a characteristically resounding ‘yes’! 

We will miss his inspiration greatly and mourn his powerful persona of Ahavas Hashem.  

As a child who attended Camp Munk for eight years, for two months every summer, I have a image burned into my soul of Rav Sheftel. 

With his towering presence, and booming voice he would often lead the spirited singing in the dining room at the meals.  

There was a popular song in its time set to the words of Tehillim, שבשפלנו זכר לנו... ויפרקנו מצרינו... — In our lowliness He remembered us... And released us from our tormentors... 

He would prance through the dining room with his arms raised and swinging, shouting out the first segment, שבשפלנו זכר לנו, then going silent as we would all respond with an enthused ‘Ahhhhhh’, after he would then boom out the second half, ויפרקנו מצרינו, with us once again inspiringly screaming ‘Ahhhhhh’ after he went quiet. 

We were so caught up in his infectious excitement, we continued singing endlessly. 

He taught by the way he lived that even when we are down Hashem loves us, and He will no doubt release us from our torment, one day soon. 

May we fill this gap by aspiring to live with a constant consciousness, yearning for Hashem’s closeness, that will enthuse and uplift all in our circle and beyond. יהי זכרו ברוך  

באהבה, 

צבי יהודה טייכמאן