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Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126 rablenblank@gmail.com,
May 22, 2026, 5, Sivan, 5786
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From: The Jewish Education Program, Menucha Vesimcha. A guide to basic laws and themes of Shabbos and Yom Tov and their application in theory and in practice. By Rabbi Mordechai Katz . Feldheim Publishers Ltd.
“The stories of the two converts to Judaism, Ruth, the Moavite princess, and Onkelos, nephew of the Roman Emperor, seem to have many similarities. Both gave up royalty, honor and wealth to become observant Jews.
Both then had a major impact on Jewish history. Ruth was privileged to become the ancestress of the Royal House of David, and Onkelos’ commentary has been studied for centuries together with the Holy Torah.
Both converts showed dedication, self-sacrifice and determination to be part of H’s Chosen People. Their reward was having a permanent influence on the lives and history of the Jewish People.”
Ruth and Onkelos showed us through their stories how important it is to know ones tachils, one’s purpose in life. The following, Raising Your Flag; Finding Your Tachlis by Rabbi Yissoscher Frand and another commentary by Avraham Cohen, Shavuos, 5786 (Rabbi Frand’s article has been edited and emended for clarity) can be found at avcographe@aol.com in addition to an expanded DT packet (pdf file- 6 pages , this article and others) weekly via email. “The Midrash Rabbah in Parshas Bamidbar says that when H’s Presence descended upon Har Sinai (which we will remember and celebrate this week, on Friday and Shabbos,) twenty-two rivivos/units of ten-thousand malachim/angels descended with Him-each with flags. This is a strange statement because a flag is a physical item and malachim are entirely spiritual. Klal Yisrael saw this sight and (the Midrash adds) they began to passionately long for flags themselves. H responded that since they longed for flags, He would grant their wish. Therefore, He gave them flags.
Of course, our question must be: What is so great about flags? The answer of the language of the Midrash only puts emphasis on this question-i.e. “they passionately longed for flags” (nis’ah’vee’sem)? Wanting a ‘flag’ is one thing; but what was it about these flags that could arouse their passion?
The answer is that ‘flags’ represent a person’s tachlis/purpose. Even though malachim are spiritual beings, when it says they each had their own ‘flag’, it really means that each had their own purpose. Chazal say in many places that every malach has only one purpose. They only do one thing at a time-that is their sole focus. Every malach knows its job and its designated role in existence. When the Midrash says that Klal Yisrael “passionately” longed for flags, it does not mean physical flags. It means that they were longing for the ability to know their purpose in life and their designated mission.
This is one of the greatest gifts that a person can have-to know what he/she is supposed to do. In Parshas Vayechi, when Yaakov Avinu calls all his children (the nascent twelve-tribes) to his death bed to give them his blessings, we are often left wondering- what kind of blessings are these? Many of them don’t even seem to be ‘blessings’! The answer is that he is telling them about their te’chu’nas ha’ne’fesh/ the inner qualities of their souls; their essence. He is telling them about their strengths and their weaknesses. He is telling them what they are supposed to be doing. That is the biggest bracha in life- to know what you are supposed to do!
People talk about “having to find themselves.” It is a major challenge. I don’t know if the many people try to go about “finding themselves” is always correct, but the fact that they want to “find themselves” is very understandable and natural. That is why sometimes people work at a job for ten, twenty, or thirty years and then suddenly completely switch jobs and find themselves happier than they have ever been! They feel that they may have lost thirty years of their life, because they were not doing what they were really meant to be doing.
So, the source of the envy that Klal Yisrael had for the malachim was that they saw that every malach understood and was focused on their dedicated mission. This is the attribute for which they longed. H said to them, “This is what I am doing to do- I am going to give you flags as well and group you with others who have the same tachlis (purpose) and the same tafkid (role).” This is a very big bracha.
I would like to share an interesting story brought down by the Tolna Rebbe, which speaks to this point. There was a Yekishe Yid (Jew of German descent) named R’ Avrohom Hoffman, who lived in Yerushalayim and worked for the government. He was in Eretz Yisrael both before and during World War II. After the war, when Holocaust survivors began arriving in Israel, among them were Gerer Chasidim (from Poland). The first time R’ Hoffman saw Gerer Chassidim in Yerushalayim, he noticed that their pants were tucked into their socks! For him, this was the strangest thing in the world-why would you stick your pants into your socks?
By and by, he met two Gerer Chassidim and he asked them about this strange practice. They explained, “In Poland the streets were not paved. The roads were muddy. Socks cost less than pants. If something has to get dirty, better the socks should get dirty than the pants. That is how this custom got started.”
R’ Hoffman said, “I have news for you” you are no longer in Poland. The streets in Yerushalayim are not muddy and there is no reason to wear your socks in you pants anymore.” This logical observation made not impression whatsoever upon these Gerer Chassidim. Sometime after that, R’ Hoffman met the Gerer Rebbe (the Beis Yisrael). He figured that since he couldn’t get a satisfactory answer from the chassidim, he would ask the Rebbe himself! The Rebbe answered: “This is our flag! This is part of the identification uniform of a Gerer Chassid. When we wear our pants in this fashion, we are proclaiming “I am a Gerer Chassid;’ This is my group and this is my tachlis. That is what I am proud of and that is the way I fly my flag- by wearing my pants inside my socks!”
This is what metaphorical flags are all about- showing that one is part of something that supersedes the person himself: being part of a group, knowing the tachlis of the group, and knowing one’s role within the group.”
May we be zoche to inspire those who are still seeking their own identity, their tachlis and tafkid in their lives. May we all enjoy the Shavuos dairy delights (or parve for those who are unable to eat dairy products)
Respectfully, Rabbi Yehuda Blank