1. Personal Milestones and Dedications
Tonight marks two significant personal occasions: the 37th anniversary of my marriage and the yahrzeit—anniversary of passing—of my father-in-law, Aryeh Leib ben Rivke Pesach Hillel, of blessed memory. May his neshama—soul—have an aliyah, an elevation, through the words of Torah we share tonight. It is customary to begin with a lighthearted note, so in honor of our anniversary, I’ll share a joke before delving into deeper ideas from this week’s parsha—Torah portion.2. Anniversary Humor and Its Deeper Message
There was a couple celebrating their 75th anniversary with a grand party. The wife raised her glass and toasted, “Living with Jack was like two days.” The crowd was amazed—75 years felt like two days! But there’s always a nudnik in the crowd who asked, “Why two days?” She replied, “Like Tisha B’Av and Yom Kippur.” Hopefully, our own marriage isn’t quite like that! Yet, behind the humor lies a truth: marriage is filled with ups and downs, but it’s also a source of profound blessing.3. The Unique Nature of Divine Blessing
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Nossoy, we read about the special mitzvah for the Kohanim—priests—to bless the Jewish people. Rashi comments that Hashem’s blessing is unlike any human gift. When a king gives his servant a precious stone as a reward, it can be stolen by bandits—so the servant may end up with nothing. But when Hashem blesses us, He not only gives us good things but also protects what we have so we can truly benefit from His gifts. The Gemara tells a story about a king who gave a sage an expensive jewel. In return, the sage sent him a mezuzah. The king questioned why he received only parchment in exchange for such value. The sage explained: “You gave me something I must guard; I gave you something that guards you.” The mezuzah serves as spiritual protection.4. Cherishing and Protecting Blessings
It’s one thing to receive blessings—family, health, livelihood—but another to cherish and protect them. Sometimes people are blessed but fail to appreciate or maintain what they have because of conflict or ingratitude. The Torah’s blessing is not just Yevarechecha Hashem—may Hashem bless you—but also Veyishmarecha—may He guard you. This applies to all areas of life: Hashem may grant someone long life (arichas yamim), but if it isn’t filled with goodness or gratitude, what is its value? That’s why we wish each other not just long life but good years—a life filled with meaning and appreciation for Hashem’s gifts.5. Reflections on the Number 37 in Torah and Life
Reflecting on our 37th anniversary led me to consider where the number 37 appears in Torah. One notable place is at the Akeidas Yitzchak—the binding of Isaac—where Yitzchak was 37 years old according to Rashi’s calculation (since he married at 40 and Rivka was born when he was 37). This number symbolizes sacrifice and mutual effort in relationships: after many years together, one learns that making marriage work requires self-sacrifice and compromise. Additionally, the Hebrew letters for 37 (Lamed Zayin) form an acronym for Zichron Lebrocha—a memory for blessing—a phrase used for righteous individuals. This connects both to my anniversary and my father-in-law’s yahrzeit, as his memory should be for a blessing.6. Lessons from Holocaust Survivors’ Faith and Resilience
My father-in-law was a Holocaust survivor who spent four years hiding in pits rather than being sent to death camps. Despite unimaginable suffering—losing family members and enduring severe deprivation—he maintained his faith (emunah) and commitment to Jewish tradition. What stands out about survivors like him is their unwavering dedication: after all they endured, they rebuilt their lives with faith intact, sending their children to Jewish schools even when resources were scarce. This deep-rooted faith comes from generations stretching back to Avraham and Yitzchak—a legacy of resilience that nothing could shake.7. Simple Devotion as True Piety
My father-in-law wasn’t known as a great scholar or outwardly pious man—he didn’t even have a beard—but his sincerity shone through in his daily actions. In shul he would sit quietly with his siddur throughout davening, never speaking during prayers, always arriving early and leaving late. He embodied simple yet steadfast service of Hashem—a model worth emulating. May we learn from such strength and conviction in our own lives: to live with faith, gratitude, happiness, good health, peace in our homes (shalom bayis), joy from our children and grandchildren (nachas). And may we merit soon the coming of Mashiach Tzidkeinu—our righteous redeemer—bimheira v’yameinu, speedily in our days.