The Sifri teaches that Bnei Yisrael merited entering Eretz Yisrael in the zechus of the mitzvah of bikkurim. The question is obvious: How could they have merited through a mitzvah that could only be performed once they were already in the Land? The Shem MiShmuel explains that it was not the performance of the mitzvah itself but the essence behind it — the middah of hakaras hatov. Bikkurim represent the Jew’s deep appreciation of all that Hashem gives, and that middah is the true foundation for living in Eretz Yisrael.
The Zohar (quoted in Chok L’Yisrael on Parshas Shoftim) presents a cryptic teaching: If one wishes to understand why Dovid HaMelech did not marry Batsheva initially but only after she was first married to Uriah, one must first understand why the Canaanites lived in Eretz Yisrael before Bnei Yisrael. Perhaps the Zohar hints that there is a necessary prerequisite for living in Hashem’s kingdom — the middah of anavah. As the Chovos HaLevavos writes in Sha’ar HaKniyah, true humility means recognizing that everything one has is a gift from Hashem. Only with this posture of humility and gratitude can one fully dwell in Hashem’s presence.
The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 10) writes that the very heart of teshuvah is ahavas Hashem. Rav Noach Weinberg zt”l would often say that the litmus test of a successful Elul is: Are you in love with Hashem? The Rambam compares this love to the passionate love of a man for a woman, the model of Shir HaShirim. And in Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah (2:2), the Rambam explains that this love is cultivated by contemplating Hashem’s creations, seeing the wisdom and wonder in the natural world, and through this, coming to love and fear Him.
Hashgachah brought me recently to the Galápagos Islands. For many, this is just an exotic vacation destination. But for me, it was an extraordinary opportunity to fulfill the Rambam’s words. The very name of these islands calls to mind Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection. But while his conclusions are debated and, in many respects, rejected even by honest scientists today, for us, the Galápagos are not a testimony to randomness but to yad Hashem. The finches with their different beaks, the giant tortoises, the marine iguanas — all of them are not accidents, but part of the vast symphony of creation. They sing out Mah rabu ma’asecha Hashem, kulam b’chochmah asisa! And when one encounters such creations, there are special brachos to say, reminding us that these wonders are not meant to point us away from Hashem but rather, directly toward Him.
This is the avodah of Elul: to cultivate hakaras hatov, to live with anavah, and to awaken within ourselves passionate ahavah and yirah. By opening our eyes to Hashem’s world, whether in the beis medrash or even on a distant island, we train ourselves to see His presence everywhere.
May we merit to enter the Yamim Nora’im with simchah, awe, and trepidation — and with hearts full of love fo
RABBI DANIEL COREN
