We’ll close with one more idea found in Mei HaShiloach. The Ishbitzer says, the story of the blasphemer comes at the end of our Parsha for a reason. This individual had requested to receive their inheritance in the section of land given to the tribe of Dan, reasoning that his mother was from the tribe of Dan – Shlomit bat Divri. But his father was an Egyptian man, and he was therefore not given his desired inheritance. How did he react? The man proceeded to press charges against the elders of Israel, taking his case all the way to Moshe Rabbeinu, who ruled that indeed he could not assume a place within the tribe of Dan. When told that his father was an Egyptian, the man responded, “An Egyptian? And where’s this Egyptian father of mine right now?” He was then informed that the Egyptian who Moshe Rabbeinu killed using the Shem Hameforash that famous morning in Egypt, was none other than his father. Upon being told this, the man proceeded to curse the Name. Meaning, this man cursed Hakadosh Baruch Hu because he was removed from the tribe of Dan. What sort of person curses the name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu? If you know that כׇּל דְּ עָבֵיד רַ חֲמָ נָא לְטָ ב עָבֵיד – everything that G-d does, He does for the best, why are you cursing? If Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants you not to be a part of Dan, then that is what is best for you. If He wants you to be on the outside, then that is what is best for you. If Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants you to be in a certain position or predicament, then that is what is best for you. Why curse? A Jew does not have gripes and grievances regarding their state, because in our Parsha, a Jew learns about five types of people who have grievances, together with how that indignation is removed. The Mo’adim give us the power to deal with what we’re served by Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
The Shulchan Aruch states that one who was widowed from his wife and wants to remarry, or a woman who was widowed and now wants to remarry, must first wait. How much time must they wait? The answer is שׁ ְ ל ֹ שׁ ָ ה רְ ג ָ ל ִ י ם – the span of three festivals. While there are various leniencies, why is that initial timeframe given? It is because after going through everything they did, and carrying the burden of illness for who knows how long, and then enduring the difficult passing of their loved one, there is no doubt that questions were asked of Hakadosh Baruch Hu and grievances laid out. Clearing those grievances and eliminating their state of indignation requires going through a full cycle of Mo’adim.
Who complains? Gentiles complain. Egyptians complain. They complain and then they curse. We’ll close with the Gemara (Avodah Zara 3a) that tells us, the nations of the world approached Hakadosh Baruch Hu and asked for a single Mitzvah which they could observe. What Mitzvah did Hakadosh Baruch Hu give them? ָה יֵשׁ לִי מִצְוָה קַל – an easy Mitzvah, that of Succah. Why is it considered easy? Because there is no loss of money involved. Put up a flimsy tent made from whatever scraps you find lying around, and you’re done.
Immediately, each and every gentile will take materials and construct a succah on top of his roof. And Hakadosh Baruch Hu will set upon them the heat of the sun in the season of Tammuz, i.e., the summer, and each and every one will kick his succah and leave.
Hakadosh Baruch Hu sent a challenge their way and none could withstand the heat. Instead, they stood up, kicked the Succah and walked out, cursing Hakadosh Baruch Hu in the process. But what is the problem here? Even Bnei Yisrael, when confronted with unbearable heat, are permitted to leave the Succah and are exempt from the obligation to dwell in it. The Gemara answers, they may be exempt, and they may leave, but they do not kick the Succah and curse on their way out. They leave with a sense of dejection and brokenness, wanting to serve Hakadosh Baruch Hu but feeling as though He is pouring a bucket of water on them. Do you know who kicks? Gentiles kick. When not accepted exactly where they want to be – they kick, and they curse. Not so, Bnei Yisrael. One who knows they are the child of Hakadosh Baruch Hu and beloved to Him, never acts in such a way.
