“Revealing Hidden Praise”[1]
Parshas Ki Savo 5783
לזכר נשמת אסתר תהלה בת ר’ גבריאל פינחס
Based on “Erev Shabbos Parsha Inspiration” by Rabbi Phillip Moskowitz[2]
Written by Rabbi Dani Staum[3]
1. At the beginning of the parsha, when the Torah described the berachos we merit when we follow the Torah, it says, “ובאו כל הברכות האלה והשגוך – All these blessings will come upon you, and they will overtake you.”
What does it mean that berachos will overtake us?
The classic idea is that we have so many blessings in our lives, but we hardly take the time to appreciate them. We become caught up in the noise and rat race of life and don’t give ourselves time for those blessings to ‘catch up’ with us, so we can enjoy them and appreciate them.
Many people have great blessings in their lives but do not appreciate it, because they are always running after the next thing. The Torah states that that not only will we merit blessings, but we will also be able to appreciate them.
Rabbi Jonthan Sacks writes that Friday Night is when he allows the blessings of the week to ‘catch up with him’. He reflected and appreciated all the blessings of the week at that time.
Rav Shlomo Yosef Zevin zt”l, L’Torah V’laMoadim, quotes the Kotzker Rebbe, who offered another novel explanation: The word hasagos is familiar to us, because when the Ra’avad wrote his glosses on the Rambam’s Mishna Torah he titled them “Hasagos HaRa’avad – the challenges of the Ra’avad.”
The Torah is saying that we will merit berachos that will then become a challenge for us.
Whenever we are graced with added blessing, it becomes a challenge to see how we will utilize those blessings. When one is going through difficult times, he may have legitimate reasons and excuses why he cannot accomplish certain expected things in Avodas Hashem. However, when he receives blessing and now has the ability to accomplish and do more, he is bidden to live up to those new expectations. With new blessing comes new responsibility.
What do we do with affluence and blessing? Do we maximize those gifts?
2. The Torah writes that all the painful and harsh curses of the Tochacha will befall the Jewish People, “Because you did not serve Hashem, your G-d, בשמחה ובטוב לבב – with joy and good-heartedness from an abundance of all” (Devorim 28:47).
What is the difference between simcha and tuv leivav?
Rav Avrohom Yitzchak HaKohain Kook zt”l (Mussar Avicha) explains that simcha is the happiness one feels when he recognizes that he has received something of great value.[4]
B’tuv levav is the feeling one has when he realizes that he is personally worthy of those gifts.
Once a person realizes that he merited a windfall, he still needs to feel that he deserves that gift and that it is becoming to him, despite his shortcomings and flaws.
Not only must we feel simcha that we are the Torah nation, but we also have to feel tuv levav because Hashem desires the connection with each and every one of us, and we are deserving of that distinction, despite our past iniquities and failings.
It’s easy to get caught up in the past mistakes we have made and to think why would Hashem want connection with me? We have an obligation to recognize that we have a portion in Torah, and we are personally worthy of it!
Regarding teshuva too, Hashem says “I’ll forgive you, but you also need to forgive you!”
Rav Avrohom Avidan zt”l, the late Rosh Yeshiva Shaalavim, explained that when we say the words, “v’sen chelkeinu b’sorasecha – and give us our portion in Your Torah,” we are asking that Hashem help us to discover our unique connection and potion to Torah, despite our flaws and shortcomings. That portion of Torah remains our portion and no one else can teach it and discover it besides for us.
On a Behind the Bimah episode[5], Rav Moshe Weinberger explained that this warm approach is what’s needed today to inspire others. 50 years ago, the approach to Elul was one of yirah, warning about the awe and dread of the impending judgement and the need to do teshuva.
In our day, however, we need to utilize an approach of love and warmth, emphasizing how Hashem loves us and desires that connection with us on a personal level.
3. Viduy Maaser (confession of the tithes) is recited before the last day of Pesach on the fourth and seventh years of the Shmittah cycle in which, after making sure that all necessary tithes were given, the owner recites a short statement in which he proclaims that he has fulfilled his obligation to ensure that all the grain which was intended to be given to the Leviim and the poor was given and all the grain which was meant to be taken up to Yerushalayim to be eaten there was transported and consumed.
Before asking for a final blessing – the petitioner proclaims “עשיתי ככל אשר צויתני” – “I have done all that you have commanded.” Rashi comments: “שמחתי ושימחתי בו”. “I rejoiced and I caused others to rejoice.”
What is this rejoicing which Rashi speaks of? What is the rejoicing in giving the Maaser?
Rav Avraham Pam zt”l explained that when Rashi, based on the Mishna in Maaser Sheni, comments that “I rejoiced and I caused others to rejoice” it means that the reason why I rejoiced is because I caused others to rejoice. He felt joy in the very fact that he was able to give others and bring joy to them.
Rambam )Shevisas Yom Tov 6:18) writes: When a person eats and drinks (as part of celebrating Yom Tov), they are obligated to feed “the stranger, the orphan, and the widow”. But someone who locks the doors of their house, eating and drinking with their children and spouse, and doesn’t provide food or drink to the poor and depressed, is not participating in the joy of G-d’s commandments but rather the joy of his stomach.”
Today, everyone is searching for the road to happiness. The Torah teaches us that joy comes from giving and bringing joy to others.
- Hidden Praise is the loose meaning of Esther Tehilla, in whose memory these divrei Torah were transcribed. ↑
- “Parshas Ki Savo: 3 ideas in 30 minutes”, August 27, 2021, posted on YUTorah ↑
- Stamtorah@gmail.com ↑
- על כל פנים, השמחה באה מצד הידיעה בעילוי ערך העבודה, שהיא למעלה ממדרגתו הרבה, וטוב-לבב – מצד הידיעה שראוי לו לעבוד, בידיעתו אהבתו של האדון ברוך הוא ליצוריו וכפרט לעם קרובו, כי השמחה במה שתהיה הרבה יותר ממדרגתו לא ייטב בה לבו.
ולפי זה, שני לימודים הם: א’ – רוממות ערך כל העבודה, שהרי היא מקרבת ממש את האדם ליוצרו ית’; ולמוד שני – מעלת נפשו ורוחניותה מצד ענינה, שאע”פ שנטנפה בכל גלולי החומר ח”ו… ובידיעת דבר זה עצמו היא מתטהרת באמת, כי הוא ענף גדול מענפי תשובה מאהבה.
ספר מוסר אביך להגרא”י הכהן קוק זצ”ל – אות ח’ ↑
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt0curm0LAA ↑