How many times do you contemplate doing something great, only to throw up your hands in defeat before you even start? "Oh, I would love to do it", you think to yourself, "but it's just not possible." Whether it's a lack of resources, strength, or time, we think we have a valid excuse. Do we?
Hashem tells Avraham Avinu in this week's parsha 15,5 "Habet na hashamayma usfor hakochavim... ko yi’hiye zaracha" – look, now towards the heaven, and count the stars - if you are able to count them, and He said, so shall your offsprings be. Meaning, you will have so many children like the stars.
Rav Meir Shapiro explains that Hashem was not simply telling Avraham Avinu how many children he is going to have. There is a different message being said here, a much deeper message. Hashem was telling Avraham Avinu – go and count the stars. Now, we know that it's impossible to count the stars, but Hashem said to count – so he must try to do just that. Indeed, Avraham Avinu obeyed Hashem's command and tried to count the stars. It was impossible. And then Hashem said to him, "Ko yihiye zaracha" – so shall be your children. In all generations, your children will do the same – they will try to do the impossible. At times it might seem that it's worthless for them to even try to do the retzon Hashem - but no, they won't give up. They will try as hard as they possibly can. And when a person has a strong will to do something, he will discover strengths that he never knew he possessed. He will discover that he might just be able to do the impossible. The Zohar tells us, "Ain lecha davar ha’omed b’fnei haratzon" – nothing stands in the way of desire. You just have to truly desire it.
The Alter from N’vardok once said a yid should never ask "can I do this or can't I"; rather, he should ask "must I do this or not". For if he must do it, he'll receive the siyata dishmaya necessary to carry it out. And this is a lesson for all of us – never to question our ability to accomplish something good. For even if previously we didn't have the strength to carry out a good deed, once we firmly decide to go through with it, we will receive the Divine help necessary.
The Chofetz Chaim says that by a bris, usually the person naming the baby is a rav or a rosh yeshiva. Moshe Rabeinu, however, got his name from Basya bas Paroh and Hashem honored the name. Why did she call him that? Says the pasuk "ki min hamayim mishisuhu"- I drew him out of the water. What significance does this have?
The Chofetz Chaim says when Basya wished to get the basket from the water, it was far out of her reach. According to nature, there was no way for her to retrieve the basket.
However, she tried – she stretched out her hand. As we all know, a miracle occurred and her hand stretched many amos until she reached the basket. Basya knew it was impossible to reach the basket, but she didn't make any cheshbonos. She just did what she could. So, the name "Moshe" teaches us that when it comes to saving a yid, don't make cheshbonos. Just do all you can.
When Hashem gave klal Yisroel the Torah, he went around from nation to nation and asked if they would want it. Each one asked what does it say in the Torah, and Hashem gave each nation a different example – you can't murder, you can't steal, etc. Each nation said no, it's not possible for us to keep the Torah. Then, when Hashem came to klal Yisroel, they said "naaseh v’nishma". Asked Rav Matisyahu Solomon, let's say klal Yisroel would have asked what does it say in the Torah, what would Hashem have answered them? He said, Hashem would have told them that you can’t speak lashon hara, and klal Yisroel would have discussed it and they would have said it’s not possible, we can’t accept it. However, once they said Naaseh v’nishma and they were mekabel, now they had the kochos to withstand the nisayon of lashon hara.
The Smag writes that an older person should never slack off on his daily learning, even though he’s older. This Smag was shown to Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer. Rav Isser Zalman said that once in Slutzk, a talmid of his who was blind came over to him and showed 2 seforim that he published. Rav Isser Zalman was reading a certain Dvar Torah that was written in the sefer and the talmid said that this was the last dvar Torah that he was mechadesh. Rav Isser Zalman asked him what do you mean? The talmid answered, "I toiled all my life to be mechadesh chidushim. As I got older I made up my mind that I won’t toil in learning anymore and at that time my eyesight went. I went to the doctor and he did many tests and then told me, 'Eyes I can’t give you, but I’m astonished how were you able to see until now. Based on all the tests we did, it shows that you were not able to see the last ten years. It’s a big wonder that you were able to see'. Rav Isser Zalman told his talmid, 'As long you were toiling in Torah, Hashem gave you kochos to see even though according to nature you were blind. As long that you were committed, you were able to see. When you made up your mind that you're not toiling in Torah anymore, the teva came back and you were not able to see.' Indeed, it's the ratzon, the will, that determines the kochos we will have. When our determination is rock solid, nothing will get in the way.
The Baal Shem Tov Told his talmidim, don’t say "I can’t". Say "I don’t want to". That's because, as we have learned, if you truly wish to do something, you will. You will receive new kochos, you will discover new abilities, and you will get the siyata dishmaya needed to succeed. If there's a will, there's a way. So go ahead and reach for the stars.
