Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
Hashem commands us to watch the matzos very closely during the baking process and keep them from harm.
We should not chas veshalom tarry in our work and let chometz develop. In a play on words, Chazal make one of their most well-known drashos - be careful when you do a mitzva, do it with alacrity. Don’t let it wait! Don’t let the mitzva turn into chometz from acting too slowly! Mitzvah haba-ah leyadcha al tachmitzenah.
In this age of technological wonders, helping us transact everything we do at warp speed, we still tend to take it a little too easy when it comes to doing mitzvos. A sense of urgency, of complete dedication, may sometimes be lacking. This is what we are being warned about. Once a thought of spiritual action comes into our mind, we must quickly carry it out, before the opposing forces in this world convince us to wait further and maybe even delay it indefinitely.
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein tells the story of a well-known mara d’asra who was talking with an askan, when they got the message that a large Jewish business had, it seems, complications of chillul Shabbos, week after week.
When the askan told the Rav that he personally knew this businessman, the Rav wanted to go visit the CEO immediately. The askan protested “I have to change my clothing – it’s just not appropriate to visit this international businessman with what I have on. On top of that, it was raining this morning and I have mud all over my shoes and pants. It will only take a few minutes to change, I live right around here!"
But the Rav objected – we must leave right now!
A short time later, they found themselves downtown, taking the elevator up to the top floor of a building. Much to their surprise they were able to knock on a half-open door, and the executive welcomed them into his office.
After informing him of the chillul Shabbos taking place, the CEO, who was frum, immediately agreed to remedy the situation.
“I just have two questions for you gentlemen. How did you know that in a few short minutes I would be leaving for an extended overseas trip and virtually unreachable for a long stretch of time? And secondly, my secretary never gives anyone free access to my office – where is she?”
The askan smiled – he and the Rav both noticed the secretary coming back to her desk right at that moment.
They had come at exactly the right time, because had they come even just a few minutes later, nothing would have worked out as it did for them that day.
Deep down inside, we all know that there is a right time for everything. If we follow what our Sages have said and not push off our actions, we will always be synchronized with the heavenly clock and success will be well within our reach.
