Peek 31, pasuk 16.  “V’kam ha’am hazeh v’zan acharei elokei neichar ha’aretz.  So, the Gra says, this is basically the gemara, that “v’zanu”, why does it use this expression so often when it describes avodah zara which we turn away, but also connotes immorality, zenus?  Because the answer is that every avoda zara is really a worship of the self, and it’s really to allow themselves to do some form of zenus.  And, that’s the pshat that the Jews only served avoda zara to be matir gilui arayos b’pharhesia.  And, the Gra says that the word, “arayos” which means illicit relationships is the gematria “Ohr hadaas,” because the purpose of this world is to be kadosh and to connect with Hashem, and arayos is what takes away from that and destroys that kedusha.  That’s  why “kedoshim ti’hiyu”, the kedusha comes when we follow the Torah and we stay pure.  Something to think about as we continue to grow.

2) What is the “shira hazos” that must be written to remind us of the Torah?

Perek 31, pasuk 19.  “V’atah kisvu lachem es hashira hazos” which is a machlokes rishonim what it refers to.  “L’lamda es Bnei Yisrael simu b’fifihem l’maan” tihiyeh es hashira hazos l’eid l’Vnei Yisrael.”  So, many mefarshim say is it this pasuk, is it this parsha, is it the whole Torah?  Well, it seems to be, it can’t be, says the Gra, the whole Torah because it’s telling you write this part down so that you remember the whole Torah.  So, if you’re remembering the whole Torah, then it’s not a way to remind you of the whole Torah.  Yet, it can’t be this pasuk.  What does this mean that it’s trying to remind you of the Torah? 

The six hundred and thirteen letters of Ha’azenu hint to the six-hundred and thirteen mitzvos

So, the Gra says in Aderes Eliyahu, perek 32, pasuk 55.  This really we could save a little for later.  But, that’s referring to parshas Ha’azinu because parsha Ha’azinu has taryag teivos.  It has six-hundred and thirteen letters and every letter is merameiz to Taryag mitzvos.  And, not only that, but it’s brought down b’Sheim a number of people that there’s many sefarim written including by one persont that goes through all of the words in the parsha showing how they correspond to all of the Taryag mitzvos, and I actually have, Rav Yonasan EIbshitz wrote a sefer like this, and I actually have it and have looked at it and it’s quite brilliant.  Not only is it including the six-hundred and thirteen, but in the last word of the parsha he ties in the seven mitzvos d’rabbanan as well.  Brilliant!  So, there’s six-hundred and thirteen mitzvos and seven d’rabbanans keser, six-hundred and twenty mitzvos. 

3) Why don’t we have as much success in Torah learning as we did in previous generations?

There’s another interesting he’ara perek 31, pasuk 21.  So, the Gra is talking about “v’ansa hashira hazos lifanav l’eid ki lo shachach mipi zaro”.  The Torah will never be forgotten.  The Gra says: What’s the pshat that nowadays we don’t’ have as much success in Torah learning as in past generations where people could become gedolim much more easily.  Now, I know some people are going to yell and scream and say that there’s more gedolim now and there’s more greatness in Torah now.  Just hear me out.  I’m not getting involved in that.  I know that there’s tremendous amounts of Torah that people have dedicated themselves to, and the previous generations have really set the path for tremendous explosions and growth in Torah.  So, just listen to what the Gra is saying. 

Torah needs to be taught l’sheim Shamayim

Gra says that one of the yesodos is that yes, Hashem promises that it will be forgotten “lo sishachach mipi zaro.”  But, what is sad is that why does a father send his son to learn?  Because I want him to be a lamdan, I want to get a good name for myself.  Look at the kind of son I have.  That’s the wrong intention.  And, why does the melameid teach?  Because he wants money.  So, he says: If you look at Rav Chiya, Rav CHiya taught because he wanted to make sure that Torah wouldn’t be forgotten.  That’s the way because there’s a commitment because the Rebono Shel Olam says that it won’t be forgotten.  That’s the way you teach Torah.  That’s exactly the way it was when Rav Aharon Kutler came to America, he kept saying that b’Sheim Rav Chaim Vuluzin, that you might think that in galus of America Torah will be forgotten, but Hashem promised that it won’t be forgotten, and so I’m holding onto that promise and I’m building talmidim based on that promise, and look at what he did.  He brought Torah to America together with many other gedolim that helped it.  

4) The biggest weapon against the Yeitzer harah is the Torah

There’s a famous Igeres Hagra on the pasuk.  It says, “Ki yadati es yitzro.”  The Gra writes an interesting thing which is what to think about that he says that “l’pesach chatas roveitz”.  The pasuk tells us that sin lurks, and the Yeitzer tries to take control over us, but what is the way, the tavlin shelo?  For males it’s eisek haTorah.  That’s it.  Your biggest weapon you have is learning Torah.  Now, people think: Oh, that’s overrated.  What does that mean?  I learn it doesn’t help.  Well, it means Torah that you learn and apply.  When you learn it, it becomes part of your brain; it becomes part of your heart; it makes an impact on you.  It doesn’t mean that you don’t have challenges.  It doesn’t’ mean that you need to talk to someone sometimes as well.  It doesn’t mean that you get guidance, and it doesn’t mean that you need help sometimes when something challenging is going on in your life, but it gives you the guidance and inspiration  to become the best person that you could be in phenomenal ways. 

For women the weapon against the Yeitzer Hara is modesty, acting kindly and speaking properly

And, for women, “l’nekeivos hatznius”.  They should work on their modesty “v’hanhagas hamiddos v’hamussar”. And acting appropriately and kindly.  It doesn’t mean that men can’t work on this either all them.  “V’shomer peh mi’kol rah.  Bifrat milashon harah.”  And, again, that certainly applies to men an dwomen, but the Gra, that’s his advice to his own children, and we are the spiritual heirs of the Gra, and we should certainly think about his advice for us as well.

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