יום ו Date: 26 Adar II, 5774 (3/28/14) – Sukkah#53 {Tani}

FLOOD WATERS –

Gemarah [53b top]: When David Hamelech lifted the seal with Hashem’s name off of the drains, water overflowed and was drowning the earth. King David asked a Halachic question if Hashem’s name on the slab can be put back into the drain. Achitophel, his Rebbe, made an inference how from Sotah (suspected adulteress) laws: if for peace between a man and a woman, Hashem allows his name to be erased, how much more so for peace to come to the whole world?! The slab was put back and the water receded. King David composed 15 songs that brought the water back 15,000 amos which allowed the earth to live properly again.

T’s Lesson: Peace is of ultimate importance. Hashem even allows His name to be surely erased (for the Sotah) and for it to be tampered with in water (where it will likely be erased) for peace to reign. If Hashem goes to such lengths to allow peace, how much more so should we!?
Pirkei Avos: “We should be from the students of Aharon the Kohen–chasing and pursuing peace.” Peace may even be greater than teaching torah. A careful analysis of the two verse of Aharon and Moshe’s deaths show a comparison. By Aharon, both the men and the women cried for him and mourned him, but by Moshe, only the men were mentioned to have cried. Aharon pursued peace amongst both his fellow men and women, while Moshe taught torah to the men. Torah has aspects as to who and when things may be taught. Peace is so great to include everyone and everywhere.