“מי מנה עפר יעקב ומספר את רבע ישראל” 01:32
“Who has counted the dust of Yaakov or numbered a quarter of Yisroel?” Rashi says that this possuk should be understood the way Onkelos translates it: Who can count Klal Yisroel, of whom it has been said that they shall be as numerous as the dust of the earth? (Bereishis 13:16).
Rashi provides another p’shat. “עפר יעקב” implies that there can be no calculation of the commandment that Klal Yisroel fulfills with dust. Some examples of mitzvos that they fulfill with dust are not plowing a field with an ox and a donkey together, not planting kilayim (mixed seeds), ashes of a cow, and the dust of the Sotah. This parsha is the discussion of Bilam explaining to Balak why he cannot curse Klal Yisroel. What is the significance of the mitzvos of the “עפר” whereby Bilam cannot curse Klal Yisroel?
The Yalkut Shimoni explains on this possuk of “עפר” that it refers to Klal Yisroel, who wear Shabbos and Yom Tov clothing and get themselves dirty with “עפר” going to hear divrei Torah from the elders. The Ben Ish Chai explains that we are to learn from this Midrash that we must go above and beyond for the Ribbono Shel Olam and for the Torah Hakdosha. If one performs his obligation, he is not demonstrating love. However, if one goes above and beyond the call of duty, that shows love and dedication. The Midrash is teaching us that Klal Yisroel are ready to get themselves dirty with “עפר”, dirt; to go above and beyond their obligations to demonstrate their true love for Hakodosh Boruch Hu and the Torah Hakdosha.
There are responsibilities that a person has to others, and fulfilling those responsibilities in no way shows love for the other person. If a husband buys something for his wife that he is not obligated to, that shows his love for her. His doing more than he has to is what demonstrates that love.
Bilam said that he could not curse Klal Yisroel because of the power of “עפר”. Klal Yisroel are children of the Ribono Shel Olam. It is the zechus of the Torah Hakdosha that Klal Yisroel learns that sustains the entire world. We must get ourselves dirty and dusty in our pursuit of Torah study. Doing the minimum, performing our obligations, does not show true love of Hakodosh Boruch Hu. Even if it is hard for us, we must make the time to learn Torah. It does not have to be all at once, but we must constantly be striving higher. One who does not learn at all should start with once or twice a week. He will hopefully recognize how his Torah study changes his life and will seek to learn more and more.
It is that power of “עפר”, the power of going the extra mile in our avodas Hashem, that is what defeats our enemies. At the same time, we must note the other power of the “עפר”, of always remaining humble. No matter how much we achieve, we must know that we can only do so with the help of Hashem, and we have no reason to be arrogant. May we be zoche to show Hakodosh Boruch Hu how much we love Him, and in that zechus, none of our enemies will have any power over us.
