ובהקהיל את העם תתקעו ואל תריעוHashem instructed Moshe: When gathering the Yidden, blow a Tekiah, not a Teruah.
(Bamidbar 10:5)
What is the significance of the Tekia sound, vis-a-vis the Teruah sound? Why is Tekia the sound that gathers the nation?
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For most immigrants coming to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was extremely rare to find a job that did not require one to work on Shabbos. As such, many frum Jews were in constant search of a livelihood, often losing their jobs before or immediately after Shabbos, as a result of their not working on Shabbos.
The story is told of two families who struggled with Parnassa, yet fought valiantly to stay steadfast to a Torah lifestyle. Every week, each father set out to find a job, only to lose it at the end of the week, for their commitment not to work on Shabbos.
Interestingly enough, when the children of one family grew up, they stayed committed to a Torah lifestyle, while the children of the other family did not.
The father of the family that did not stay observant, bemoaned his fate to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein A"H, pointing out the tremendous self-sacrifice both he and his neighbor had shown for Shabbos, yet his neighbor's family stayed frum, while his own family did not.
Reb Moshe replied that the answer lay in the way each father addressed his family when he came home on Friday, and that the family's later commitment to Torah and Mitzvos was a result of the way Shabbos was celebrated at home.
One father would come home on Fridays in a huff, and would angrily tell his family, "What do you know? I was fired. Again, we will need to starve... because of Shabbos."
The Shabbos meal was dedicated to bemoaning the sorry state of affairs, and how difficult it was to keep Torah and Mitzvos in America. The atmosphere was sullen; the mood was dark. They sang a sorrowful song: Torah and Mitzvos was a burden; bereft of joy and purpose.
The other father would come home, and joyfully announce: "Boruch Hashem! I did it again! Even my boss could not get me to desecrate Shabbos! Nothing in the world can budge our commitment to Hashem and his Torah!"
At this family's Shabbos table, the father would speak of the great zchus they have to go against the tide, and make personal sacrifices in order to keep Shabbos. There was joy in the air! There was purpose and meaning to their suffering! They sang a song of triumph and victory: Torah and Mitzvos is the purpose and source of life!
One family gathered to the sound of Tekia - the victorious joy of a Torah life, while the other family gathered to the sound of Teruah - the painful sadness of their challenges.
***
As characterized by the sound of their call, Tekia is a victorious sound, while Teruah is a sorrowful one.
This, then, is the commandment תתקעו ואל תריעו: When seeking to inspire the nation, blow a Tekiah, not a Teruah. Highlight the joy and beauty of Yiddishkeit, and the Yidden will come.
When rallying our children to Torah and Mitzvos, do not blow a Teruah. Do not bemoan the difficulties and challenges that may accompany our Avodah, rather, blow a Tekia and celebrate the beauty and joy in it.
When we overcome our personal hardships with our Avodah, we exude the irresistible happiness and joy of Torah. Our call is a call of Tekia, attracting our children to the beauty of Torah, and inspires them to make the Torah their call in life as well.
Let us daven that our children gather to our Tekia, and that they, too, will sing the Tekia of Torah and Mitzvos, thus inspiring themselves and future generations to come.
May we merit the ultimate Tekiah of Moshiach, speedily in our days. Amen!
Dedicated לעילוי נשמת
הרה"ח ר' מנחם מאיר הכהן בן הרב חיים משה יהודה ע"ה
A chosid who lived a life of Tekia, and inspired those around him to do the same.
תנצב"ה
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