When we do good deeds or bad deeds we are partners in the outcome of our actions. Sometimes our actions can be so minor but the ramifications can be so major.
Maybe in this world we won't be charged or blamed for what we did, we won't be rewarded for being the cause of what happened, but Hashem has a different calculation.
In next week’s Parsha the Passuk tells us that we are commanded to break the alters of Idol worshipers. The Passuk finishes "do not do so to Hashem your G-d". Rashi writes that Rabbi Yishmael said, does anyone think that the Jews will break the Mizbeach - the alter in the Beis Hamikdash? Rabbi Yishmael answers that it means that the Jews shouldn't copy the non-Jews and worship idols, or similar sins which will cause the Beis Hamikdash and the alters to be destroyed.
When the Jews sinned in the time of the first Beis Hamikdash, when they Jews had hatred between one another during the time of the second Beis Hamikdash, did they imagine they will be charged for destroying the Beis Hamikdash and all the horrors of Megilat Eicha?
For sure not!
The Or Hachaim Hakadosh told over that during his times there was a moment that all of the Jews were deserving to be redeemed and Mashiach would arrive. However, a Jew in Turkey transgressed, toppled the balance and the great moment was lost.
Did that Jew realize the ramifications of his action?
Three hundred years and the Jews are still suffering in exile. The Russian Czars, Communism, the first and second World wars, the pogroms, six million Jews and much more!
Did he imagine that he had some connection to all of that?
At the end of Parshas Shoftim the Torah teaches us the laws of Eglah Arufa. A dead body was found on the road between cities. The Jewish High Court - the Sanhedrin would have to go and measure which was the closest city to where the body was found. Then the Rabbis of that city would have to kill a calf as an atonement for the anonymous murder. The Rabbis would say, "our hands did not pour this blood and we never saw who did it."
Rashi asks, do we have any doubt that the Rabbis were involved in the murder?
Rashi answers it means we never saw him and sent him without food, drink and accompanying him.
That means that had the Rabbis seen him and let him leave their town without food, drink and company, they would have had some responsibility for his murder!
The Chafetz Chaim writes that if we continue to speak Lashon Hara badly against people, continue to have Sinas Chinam - hating people for no real reason, we are the cause that the Beis Hamikdash is not rebuilt in our generation. Chazal tell us that a generation that the Beis Hamikdash was not rebuilt it is as if it was destroyed in our times.
Do we ever stop for a moment when we are about to speak a juicy Lashon Hara that we have a part in the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash?
But at the same time let us take a moment to look at the good side.
How many times do we have opportunities to do small actions but their ramifications are so great and we will find ourselves rewarded so greatly for things we thought were so minor.
The local storekeeper who paid for the young Arele Kotler to go to Yeshiva and become the famous Rosh Yeshiva of Lakewood. Did he imagine he will have a share in the study of so many thousands of students?
The man who convinced the widow to send her son the orphan Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky to Novardok and became the holy Steipler, the author of so many volumes of Kehilas Yaakov.
When we get a knock at our door and someone is standing there asking for help. Do we just see one person who needs assistance? Or maybe a whole family in distress, the future of each and every one of them.
When we give someone warm words of encouragement and support, honest and useful advice, do we have any clue the ramifications of our words?
It was the last night of Pesach in Prague. There was a knock at the door of the Noda Be'yehuda. A young non Jewish teenager stood at the door.
The Rabbi invited the boy inside. The boy turned to the Rabbi and said, "Rabbi you don't recognize me. But many years ago as a child I was penniless, had no food to eat and you gave me some money to buy some food.
I have never forgotten what you did for me and I would like to repay you for your kindness. The local bakery has prepared extra bread for tomorrow night when Pesach finishes, but all the bread is poisoned." The boy left.
First thing in the morning, the Noda Beyehuda sent around a message to all the Shuls that everyone must come to the main Shul to hear his speech.
The Synagogue was over full. Everyone was waiting to hear what the urgent message was.
The Noda Beyehuda got up and spoke. He said that sadly there was a mistake with the Jewish calendar and they had started Pesach a day to early. Therefore they must keep one more day Pesach.
That night the bakery was buzzing with excitement waiting for all the Jews to come and buy fresh bread. But no one showed up. The owner went outside looking around to see what happened. He saw a Jew and asked him why no one was buying bread. The Jew told him about the Rabbis speech.
The owner of the bakery went straight to the Police station and filed a claim against the Rabbi for causing him so much financial damage. The Rabbi was called to the police station and claimed that he knew the bread was poisoned. A loaf was given to a dog who died shortly after and the Bakery owner was arrested.
The Rabbi had given a little charity to a non Jewish kid, did he imagine that in that merit, a whole city would be saved?
The examples are endless. But the message is clear. So many little things come our way. But they aren't as little as they may seem!
