The Ksav Sofer explains that the mitzva of shmita, which is at the beginning of Parshas Behar, is the cornerstone of emuna. He explains that how can anyone deny the truth of Torah when the Torah puts the words of the Torah themselves on the line by guaranteeing triple the amount of produce from the sixth year? There is another aspect that the mefarshim point out in the mitzva of shmita that also reflects emunah. This is the aspect of love between one and another. When shmita arrives everyone, has an obligation to allow anyone who wants to come into your field and have as much food as they want from the trees and the fields. This too is an expression of emunah, because when you really believe that Hashem is the only provider, then jealousy between one Jew and another doesn’t exist.
Last Shabbos, we were privileged to have a solider and his kallah, Eden and Yarden, with us for Shabbos. 40 days into the war, Eden was hit by an RPG. The missile managed to fly through the bars of the massive bulldozer and caused Eden’s arm to fly off against his stomach. The power of the missile caused Eden stomach to open up too, and Eden was facing death. He courageously gathered himself and held his cut arm against his pierced stomach and ran to the closest tank, which eventually brought him back home to begin his recovery. Eden has a prosthetic arm, and is hoping to get a bionic arm in the next few months. My dear talmid Yehuda befriended Eden in Tel Hashomer, which is the main rehab center for injured soldiers, and introduced Eden to me through WhatsApp. I offered to learn a mishna a day for two or three minutes with Eden. Eden took me up on the offer, and since then, we have been learning almost daily. Not only has Eden developed an even deeper belief in Hashem, he has begun to see the truth of Torah, and how every mishna can be a shining source of light in this seemingly dark world.
I made a video with Eden expressing a special request. Eden said “I gave up my hand for the Jewish people; let this gift be a source of inspiration. Firstly, appreciate the small things that are really so big – appreciate your hand and fingers and all you can do because you have two hands. And secondly, stretch out your arm to another and make Shalom.” Both requests reflect our belief in Hashem and our true emunah and trust that wherever we are, and whatever we are dealing with, all is orchestrated by Hashem.
Good Shabbos
by Rabbi Daniel Coren
