Praiseworthy in Olam HaZeh, and it will bode well for you in Olam HaBa. The commentaries are perplexed by the fact that the Mishnah lauds this ascetic lifestyle saying: “You will be praiseworthy in Olam HaZeh.” After all, this is a life of deprivation and suffering.
In the sefer Beis Shmuel Acharon (Toldos), the author interprets the meaning of the Tanna as follows: This is the way of the Torah—initially, when you want to acquire the knowledge and wisdom of the Torah, he advises: To eat bread with salt, to drink water in small amounts, to sleep upon the ground, to live a life of hardship, and to toil in the Torah—because this is the only way to attain these goals. The Tanna continues, however: If you do so—if you refrained from indulging in matters of Olam HaZeh and succeeded in acquiring the treasures of the Torah: You are praiseworthy, and it will bode well for you. You will be praiseworthy in Olam HaZeh—i.e., you will be able to enjoy the pleasures of Olam HaZeh l’shem shamayim—and it will bode well for you in Olam HaBa—you will be rewarded for having started your Torah-related journey by sufficing with the minimum necessities of Olam HaZeh.
In this manner, we can compare the viewpoint of the generation of the midbar with the viewpoint of the generation that entered Eretz Yisrael. The generation of the midbar believed that it is necessary to withdraw from all matters related to Olam HaZeh; the generation entering the land believed that it is also necessary to serve Hashem with matters related to Olam HaZeh. Both ideologies are correct! Initially, it is advisable to serve Hashem as the generation of the midbar did. In the words of the Mishnah: This is the way of the Torah: To eat bread with salt, to drink water in small amount—but if you do so—then the halachah will follow the viewpoint of the generation that entered Eretz Yisrael—you will be praiseworthy in Olam HaZeh—you will need to go on to enjoy the pleasures of Olam HaZeh exclusively for the sake of Hashem.
We can now better comprehend the wondrous ways of Hashem. When Yisrael concluded their 42 journeys in the midbar, and the new generation was about to enter Eretz Yisrael, the elucidation of Chazal became a reality: "אפילו האב ובנו הרב ותלמידו שעוסקין בתורה בשער אחד נעשים אויבים זה את זה, ואינם זזים משם עד שנעשים אוהבים זה את זה, שנאמר את והב בסופה."
Alas, they understood what HKB”H had orchestrated: Initially, they travelled 42 journeys in the midbar serving Hashem in a manner that was withdrawn from the realities of Olam HaZeh; subsequently, they were going to enter the land and serve Hashem in keeping with the notion of “in all your endeavors, know Him.”
Thus, there was a harmonious, loving convergence between the generation of the midbar and the generation entering Eretz Yisrael, in keeping with the elucidation of "את והב בסופה". Hence, HKB”H performed a miracle for them “midah k’neged midah”—measure for measure—the two mountains converged—one on the border of Moav and one on the border of Eretz Yisrael. As a result, the Emorim were crushed between them in the merit of the power of the Torah and the love shared by these two generations. This merit is present in every generation attributable to our in-depth Torah-study—the war of the Torah we fight. Thus, the power of war of Yisrael’s enemies is eliminated, and HKB”H tells us what He told David HaMelech, “Engage in the study of Torah, and I will fight your battle.”
Reb Yitzchock and Mirel Forster, N'Y
LE"N their grandson Yehuda (Leiby) A'H Ben Nachman, N'Y
Arthur & Randi Luxenberg לזכות of their wonderfull parents, children and grandchildren
Family Madeb - לעילוי נשמת their dear mother Lea bat Virgini ע"ה
