Today is the Yahrzeit of HaRav Yerucham Levovitz, Z’tl, the renowned Mashgiach of the Mirrer Yeshiva from 1910 until his passing in 1936. His talmidim included HaRav Chaim Shmulevitz, Z’tl, HaRav Dovid Povarsky, Z’tl, HaRav Shlomo Volbe, Z’tl, HaRav Nosson Wachtfogel, Z’tl, and HaRav Shimon Schwalb, Z’tl. HaRav Levovitz was known for his great seder--organization. He taught that "if a knot that ties a string of pearls falls apart, the entire necklace falls apart with it--and the pearls are lost!" If a person is organized (or makes himself organized), his Torah study, his Tefillah, and his Mitzvos are performed in a timely manner and with care, and are safely guarded and secured.

HaRav Nosson Wachtfogel, Z’tl, related that when he first met HaRav Levovitz, he studied how the Mashgiach ate a meal--not because he wanted to be rude or intrusive--but simply in order to understand how a Mashgiach treats the entire eating process. For a short while, he was puzzled. There was something that was different about the way the Mashgiach ate, but the young R’ Nosson could not put his finger on it. The physical motions appeared a bit different, but the food did enter the mouth and was swallowed. What was it that the Mashgiach was doing different? Then, it dawned on him--he realized what was singular and special about the manner of eating! When HaRav Levovitz ate, it appeared as if he was not feeding himself--but that a third person was feeding him. It was as if his soul was the party in action--doing the Chesed of feeding his body, to which it was so connected, and in appreciation of the dedicated lodging provided to the soul in this world.

While we obviously cannot approach the great thought processes and levels of accomplishment inherent in HaRav Levovitz’s daily meals, we should at least, from time to time, recognize that our act of eating, which to most of the world is unfortunately only a "same-action-as-animal" time, can be lifted to a more exalted plane, simply by putting some thought into what one is doing before and while he is doing it. The recital of Kepitel 23 before the meal, slow and caring brachos on foods, a dignified rather than ravenous approach, a brief thought as to what you are eating and why, can raise the bar for you and those around you. You may not be a Mashgiach, but you certainly can distinguish yourself as a noble human being.

Special Note Two: Why do we cover our eyes when we recite the first Pasuk of Shema? At a recent Hakhel Shiur, Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Lieff, Shlita, taught that with their closure, our eyes are taken out of the virtual reality of the world around us, and are brought to the inner reality of who we are, and what we are to accomplish. As the Sefer Tomer Devorah teaches (Chapter 2 ), the eyes are not meant for us to learn and absorb the negative from the world around us: "One’s eyes should not gaze at all at anything despicable. Rather, they should always be open to watch over unfortunates and have as much mercy upon them as possible... One should distance himself from noticing evil [by employing proper safeguards to avoid the "wrong" places, or keeping one’s line of vision in a different direction], just like the Supernal "Eye," which is open, and forever sees only good.

The Yetzer Hora, Rabbi Lieff continued, works through sudden impulse, temporary confusion and quick compulsion. If we can likewise "close our eyes" for but a moment to recognize and realize who we are and what our job is, the Yetzer Hora will be summarily surmounted and overcome. The Komarna Rebbe, in a sefer of instruction to his children, importantly taught them that when a person feels an urge, a desire, a seemingly irrepressible need, he should tell himself (read: the Yetzer Hora within him): OK, but before I do it, I just need an instant of "Yishuv Ha’Daas," a moment of cogent thinking. With this response, the Yetzer Hora will flee--to a more naïve and susceptible client.

As we move closer and closer to the summer months, months in which the rest of the world "lets their guard down," it is a time when we put our guard up--we close our eyes at least three times daily at Shema (we can do so more often, if we would like) to appreciate the true reality, and we proceed with a Yishuv Ha’Daas known only to those with a special mission and purpose in this world--and a true goal to accomplish it!

Special Note Three: We received the following warm and enlightening insight from a reader:

"In the womb of a pregnant woman two embryos are talking. One of them is a believer, the other a non-believer.

Believer: What an incredible world we are going to!

Non-believer: What! Do you really believe in life after birth?

Believer: Yes, sure. Of course there is life after birth. We are only here in order to prepare and ready ourselves--for what is awaiting us after this.

Non-believer: This is stupidity! There can’t be any life after birth! Can you even imagine what that kind of life could look like?

Believer: I don’t know all the details, but I believe that there will be more light and we will walk by ourselves and eat with our own mouths.

Non-believer: Such nonsense! It’s obviously impossible to walk by ourselves and to eat with our mouths! It’s simply ridiculous! We have an umbilical cord which feeds us. You know, I want to tell you: It’s impossible that there will be life after birth, because our life, that is, our umbilical cord, is simply too short.

Believer: I’m sure that it’s possible. Everything will be a little different. It is possible to at least imagine.

Non-believer: But nobody from there came back! Life simply ends with birth. And, generally, life is one big suffering in darkness.

Believer: No, no! I don’t know exactly, how our life will look like after birth, but, in any case, we’ll see our mommy and she will take care of us.

Non-believer: Mommy? You believe in Mommy? And where, do you think, she is?

Believer: She is everywhere around us. We are in her and thanks to her we are moving and living. Without her, we simply cannot exist.

Non-believer: It’s totally nonsense! I don’t see any Mommy, and that’s why it’s obvious that she simply doesn’t exist.

Believer: I can’t agree with you, because sometimes, when everything around is silent, it’s possible to hear her singing and to feel how she is filling our world. I firmly believe that our real life will start only after birth."

Hakhel Comment: Thank you. May we all prepare well--and may we all soon see the great light that even we--as Believers--cannot even fathom or imagine!

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Hakhel MIS