'ויצאו כל עדת בני ישראל מלפני משה" שמות ל"ה, כ"
The pasuk teaches us in the beginning of the parsha: וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶֽת־כָּל־עֲדַ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, Moshe assembled the entire Bnei Yisrael.
After being taught what Moshe transmitted, the pasuk concludes: וַיֵּֽצְא֛וּ כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִלִּפְנֵ֥י מֹשֶֽׁה: – the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael left Moshe’s presence. Why does the pasuk need to tell us that they left Moshe? Wouldn’t we know that those who were in Moshe’s presence left him?
This question was posed by Reb Elya Lopyon to his students, as they approached בין הזמנים – the end of a zman. This may be compared, said Reb Elya, to one who has left a place and is in doubt as to the nature of his activities at that place. When we see him wobble down the street incapable of walking straight and speaking coherently, we can assume that his is intoxicated and exiting a bar.
When one leaves the presence of משה רבנו , it is obvious from where he came from. Being in the presence of ,משה רבנו has a phenomenal influence of kedusha, so much so, that one can notice it even after he departed. When a תלמיד הישיבה leaves the four walls of the yeshiva, it must be noticeable that he was just in the yeshiva.
This parsha is usually read on the last Shabbos of the zman, said Reb Elya, to his students: When a ben Yeshiva goes home for a בין הזמנים , it must be obvious by his demeanor, from where he came from – The Yeshiva environment.
As we get ready for Pesach break, we want to infuse our students with the pride of being a ben or bas Torah along with the responsibility that goes along with it. When we are at home, in the store, on the streets, in the park or on a chol hamoed excursion, we carry the banner of Yeshiva students.
About the Author: Rabbi Yisroel Meir Rubinfeld
Rabbi Rubinfeld has been in the field of Torah education for over 3 decades and serves as an Executive School Consultant for Torah Umesorah. He provides an array of services to schools across North America, including teacher and principal mentorship, school and curricula evaluations, professional development and parent education.
Rabbi Rubinfeld's expertise includes classroom management and discipline, effective instruction, bullying, cultivating sensitivity in the classroom, impulse disorders (such as ADHD and ODD), and balancing the educational needs of mainstream and special needs children in the classroom.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is the also the founder and director of Torah Umesorah's Lilmod U'Lilamed department which provides professional development for teachers and principals throughout the year.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is a talmid of the distinguished Yeshivos of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.
