By: DC Weisswasser
In the second perek of Megillas Rus, Boaz praises Rus for all of her valiant efforts and gives her a brocha that Hashem should pay her in full for all of her efforts because she has come to shelter herself, under His wings so to speak, Lachasos tachas kenofov . The Brisker Rov ztl tells us that there are two terms used frequently in Tanach to describe a shelter. One is a magain, which could be a shield or, like the term hagana; a protection. This type of shelter could be that which someone chooses to go in or out of; much like a bus shelter. If it rains or snows, one enters. Once things outside seem more pleasant, it is abandoned. Rus however is described in her relationship to Torah as it is serving her as a machseh, a fortified type of dwelling, like a machsan, a bomb shelter. One doesn’t simply enter and exit this type of dwelling. If one stays here, it’s because there’s a danger in leaving. One has no choice but to stay. Rus was praised in that she regarded Judaism not merely as a shelter but as life itself!! When Rus chooses to convert, she pleads with her mother in- law :”Al tifgee bee, “ which means according to many rishonim, “don’t kill me”. A big lesson is derived from these words. As we approach Shavuos, when we reaffirm our commitment to Torah, we are to aim for a commitment that is not just a nice supplement to life, but rather we must regard torah as the only way to live and without it , Heaven forbid, life would have no meaning. I wish one and all a very meaningful kabbolas hatorah.
Important Numbers
