באר היטב
פרש"י בע' לשון. דברי תורה, שמחה וחיזוק.
PARSHAS EIKEV 5785
"This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances, and you observe and perform them; Hashem your G-D will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers." [Devorim 7:12]
A Chossid (follower) of Rav Dovid of Kotzk had not traveled to him for a long time. When they finally met Rav Dovid asked him where has he been until now? The Chossid answered that the Rebbe had recently visited his town. To this answered the Rebbe, don’t you know that the purification of Mikva is only accomplished by immersing in the water, in contrast to pouring water on one.
On a similar note, a Chossid travelled to his Rebbe for Shabbos. The Rebbe said at Torah by Tish, "This Shabbos is the "Grester (greatest) Shabbos - greater than last Shabbos, or any previous Shabbos, it is the greatest Shabbos of the year". This repeated itself the next Shabbos and the Shabbos thereafter. The Chossid concluded, if so, he can stay at home and exclaimed the greatness of the Shabbos, as his Rebbe did and so he concluded. Upon meeting his Rebbe, the next time, he was questioned about his conduct of first coming for Shabbosim and then his absence. Upon answering his behavior, the Rebbe answered, "But one must come to hear it”.
As we are now entering the week of the Histalkus (passing of great Rebbes in recent years on the American soil, the Satmar Rebbe ZY"A (26 Av), the Spinka Rebbe ZY"A (27 Av), The Tosher Rebbe ZY"A (27 Av), the Skulener Rebbe (29 Av), Rachmastrivka Rebbe ZY”A (29 AV), we must instill in ourselves their ways and follow the Tzadikim who are presently with us and Daven for their wellbeing.
ב"יפ ז קרפ םירבד רפס :'וגו ןוּעְמְשִׁתּ בֶקֵע הָיָהְו
This shall be the reward when you hearken: (7:12)
Just as a father says to his child, he should want to learn, since if he will not want to listen, he will hit him until he wants to learn. Therefore, he should rather want to obey immediately, as he should not need to hit him.
So too, says Moshe Rabbeinu, “Vihoyoh Eikev” – the end will be that, Tishmohun – you shall have to hear, you will be forced to hear. If so, it is easier, that you should listen immediately.
- Reb Bunim of Pshischoh – Der Torah Kvall
והיה עקב תשמעון
With every step that a person takes, he must first listen and think, if this action he will do is the will of Hashem. And if not he shall not take this step.
This is the meaning, Vihoya Eikev, and it should be, that by every step, (from the language of Dosh Bi'akeivov – trod with your heal), Tishmi'un, you should first listen that this is the will of Hashem, and you should then take this step.
- Sefer Ohr Tzadikim, in the name of Reb Moshe Leib of Sasov ZY"A – Der Torah Kvall
שֵׁקָוִּתּ ןֶפּ וֹבּ: ספר דברים פרק ז' פסוק כ"ה
Sometimes it can happen, that with the silver and gold you take from avodah zoroh you will prosper in your business. You will then start to think, it is because of the power of the avoda zoroh, and you will stumble and be mistaken through the silver and gold to the avodah zoroh itself... Chas ViSholom.
- Sefornoh
רַמָשְׁו םָתֹא םֶתיִשֲׂעַו םֶתְּרַמְשׁוּ הֶלֵּאָה םיִטָפְּשִׁמַּה תֵא ןוּעְמְשִׁתּ בֶקֵע הָיָהְו
Hashem granted three gifts to the Jewish people: to be merciful, modest, and to do acts of kindness.
How do we know that Klall Yisroel do acts of kindness? It is written: “And Hashem your G-d will keep for you the treaty and the kindness.” - Talmud Yerushalmi
Rashi famously comments on the words, "Eikev Tishmi'un; If you keep the Mitzvos that a person tramples with his heel." This refers to the seemingly trivial less important Mitzvos that we think are not really worth our time or effort. Only when we keep these Mitzvos as well, is it a sign of true dedication to the Mitzvos and to our Father above whose commandments we heed whether big or small. The Sefas Emes further illuminates this saying that the Remach or 248 Mitzvos Aseh each corresponds to one of our 248 limbs, doing these Mitzvos gives life to its corresponding limb in this world and the next. In our body we have a head and heart which are surely very important above all the others. And just like the body has a heel, while although trivial, if it lacks strength, the entire body collapses, head, heart and all, similarly if we ignore the trivial Mitzvos, all our hard work and devotion on the big ones will be for naught as the entire structure will collapse.
ח"פ םירבד :'וגו הָּבּ לֹכּ רַסְחֶת אֹל םֶחֶל הָּבּ לַכאֹתּ תֻנֵכְּסִמְב אֹל רֶשֲׁא ץֶרֶא פ"ט
A land where you can eat bread without scarceness, a land that lacks nothing in it etc... {8:9}
The Maharam Shiff says that it is not unusual for a poor man to subsist on bread and water alone. When Chazal praise someone who eats only the basic essentials and avoids eating grand meals with fine delicacies, they refer to a rich man who can eat anything he desires but chooses not to. It praises a person who chases spiritual pleasures rather than physical delights. The Yismach Moshe says we can see this in The Possuk, תֻנֵכְסִמְב אֹל רֶשֲא ץֶרֶא, a land where food is not scarce. םֶחֶל הָּבּ לַכאֹת, even though there is plenty of food, still you only eat bread. הָּבּ ,לֹכ רַסְחֶת אֹל, it lacks nothing, yet you don't spend your days enjoying its abundance.
Rav Meir Shapiro ZY”A traveled to America to raise money for his Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin. A crowd came to greet him upon his arrival. The next day the newspaper reported that 5,000 came to greet the European Rosh Yeshiva. Rav Meir Shapiro was shocked to see this blatant lie being reported. In fact, there were only about 500 people in attendance. When the reporter was asked why he exaggerated ten fold he replied, "I thought there were only 50 people there. Had I known there were 500, I would have written 50,000!
- Tal Oros
Chazal say (in Esther Rabboh Pesicha 11), Vihoyoh is a Loshon (language) of Simcha (happiness).
The meaning is, it will be a great happiness in Shomayim, if Eikev- at the end of Golus in the times of Ikvisoh DiMeshichoh, when there will be great Nisyonoss (tribulations) and deterrents to be an Ehrliche Yid [Pious Jew]. If nevertheless you will then listen.
- Sefer Orach LaChaim – Der Torah Kvall
ןַתָנ רֶשֲׁא הָבֹטַּה ץֶרָאָה לַע ˃יֶק˄ֱא 'ה תֶא ָתְּכַרֵבוּ ָתְּעָבָשְׂו ָתְּלַכָאְו (י)
A traveler once stopped at an inn [Kretchmer] and requested a glass of water on a cold night. The Kretchmer Yid [innkeeper] served him and requested 5 Rubels for the drink. Five Rubels? exclaimed the traveler, it was only a cup of water! The innkeeper explained, it is not only the cup of water I am charging you for. I am charging you for the table & chair you sat at, the warm sheltered building you sat in etc... Concluded Reb Yisroel Salanter ZY"A, when we eat the food that Hashem [G-D] gives us, and we make a Brochoh [Blessing] Shehakol, we are not only thanking Hashem for the glass of water, but we are also thanking for all the Brochos and good that Hashem bestows upon us...
- Mipi Hashmu'oh
A wealthy man once approached The Maggid of Mezeritch with the following quandary. How can he eat meat and wine, on a daily basis, when his fellow poor townspeople live on bread and water? Maybe he should also lower his standards to theirs? To this the great Maggid answered, if you eat on your wealthy standard, you will support your fellow townspeople with bread and water, but if you lower your standard, you will only give them pebbles and dust!
תֶכֶלָל ˃יֶק˄ֱא 'ה תֶא הָאְרִיְל םִא יִכּ ˂ָמִּעֵמ לֵאֹשׁ ˃יֶק˄ֱא 'ה הָמ לֵאָרְשִׂי הָתַּעְו
And now, Yisroel, what does the Hashem your G-D requires of you, only to fear the Hashem your G-D, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Hashem your G-D with all your heart and with all your soul. {10:12}
א"ר חנינא: הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים, שנאמר: מה ה' אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה וכו''. ברכות לג:
Rebbi Chaninoh said: everything is in the hands of Heaven except the fear of Heaven, as it says: “what does the Hashem your G-D requires of you, but to fear Hashem”.
- Brochos 33:
In the name of Reb Bunim of Parshischa ZY"A, Tehillim 34 Sur Meira Vi’asei tov – Go away from bad and do good, meaning, Sur Meirah – Go away from bad, it should not come to your mind the thought that you did bad until now. Only, Asei Tov – do good, and with doing good it will thereby nullify the bad totaly, Vihovein, [and understand].
- Sefer Siach Sarfei Kodesh
The Sefer Birkas Aharon quotes the Beis Aharon of Karlin ZY”A, “Vihachayos Rotzo Vishov – The Chayos ran to and fro” (Yechezkel 1:14). “Mit dem zelben chiyus voss mifort uhn men loift tzu dem Tzadik, mit dem zelbin chiyus kermehn zich uhm – With the same enthusiasm that one travels to the Tzadik, with that enthusiasm one should return”.
We must do Avodas Hashem - Davening, Torah, Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim with a Chiyus, a Bren [Lively and Enthusiastic]. The Heilige Baal Shem Tov says that a Mitzvoh that is done without a Chiyus - life to it, is considered a dead Mitzvoh.
The Zohar HaKodosh which is quoted by both the Baal Shem Tov ZY”A and the Nefesh HaChaim ZY”A, say “Kol mili dilo nasseh birussoh lo porchoh Li’eiloh – All actions that are done without a determination, do not rise Above [to Shomayim].
Reb Osher Stoliner (The Yungeh Rebbe) ZY”A said if one’s Davening is good, the whole day will be good. If not, then one must shlep (ponder) the whole day. As last Shabbos was his Yohrtzeit, it is certainly a point to strengthen.
As we can already wish a K’sivoh VaChasimoh Tova – To be written and sealed for a sweet new year, it is appropriate to relate a great story that happened at the Baal Shem Tov ZY”A.
Before Rosh Hashonoh, the Baal Shem Tov prepared a Baal Tokayah to blow the Shofar. He gave him a paper on which it stated great Sodos – secrets of Kabboloh to have in concentration before and while blowing the Shofar. Before Tikiyas Shofar there was a break. The Baal Shem Tov hid the paper from being found. When the Baal Tokayah returned and was not able to find the paper, he was broken hearted. After Davening The Baal Shem Tov profusely thanked for Tekiyos that were blown and explained his actions as follows. It says, “Lev nishbor vinidkeh Elokim lo sivzeh” – A broken, and shattered heart is not embarrassed (left empty handed) by Hashem. Therefore, your yearning for acceptance is greater in the eyes of Hashem, than even great mystical secrets.
הלפת רודס :'וכו ןוֹבְּשֶׁחְו ןיִדּ ןֵתִּל הָדיִתֲע איִהֶשׁ הָרוֹהְטַּה הָמָשְׁנַּה דַבְל
One can ask, if the Neshomoh is to be given a judgement and accounting, if so it is not pure? Rather we can say "She'asidoh", a language of preparation. The Neshomoh is preparing itself during its life on this world, to give an accounting on all it has done in its life. Therefore, it is Tihoroh – pure.
- Reb Sholom of Kaminkoh ZY"A – Sefer Yesod Ho'Avodoh on Teffilloh
A Chossid of Reb Moshe of Kobrin ZY"A once traveled to his Rebbe for Shabbos. Before leaving he made a Kugel and sang Nishmas while making it. When the Rebbe tasted the Kugel, he exclaimed "Der Kugel is ah shtick Nishmas - The Kugel is a piece of Nishmas".
- Likovid Shabbos! Toi’amehoh Chaim Zochu!
Once, it came the orphaned sons of a certain Tzaddik before the great, holy Rebbe of Kotzk ZT”L. They came begging and pleading before him, that they were lacking bread, and did not have Parnossoh R”L. Answered to them the Rebbe of Kotzk ZT”L the Possuk in Tehillim
לא ראיתי צדיק נעזב וזרעו מבקש לחם )תהלים ק' ל"ז כ"ה(
I have not seen a righteous man forsaken, with his children begging for bread. Afterwards it became good for them in all, and it was fulfilled the words of the mouth of a Tzaddik.
- Sefer Siach Sarfei Kodesh
ו"פ 'ל קרפ םילהת :וגו וֹנוֹצְרִבּ םיִיַּח וֹפַּאְבּ עַגֶר יִכּ
For His anger endures but a moment, life results from His favor etc. (Tehillim 30:6)
A person must only see the moment before him. And then “Chaim BiRitzono” – He will live in His favor.
- Sefer Beis Aharon, Likutim – Sefer Ohz Tischazeik
