Boundaries
This week's parashah (ch.24) retells the story of matan Torah, beginning with the mitzvah of prishah. Boundaries were set to show how close the nation was allowed near Har Sinai, and they were commanded not to go beyond this border.
The concept of boundaries is also discussed in last week's parashah, as it states (19:12), בקצהו ונגע בהר עלות לכם השמרו ...והגבלת, "You shall set boundaries... Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge..."
The boundaries were a prerequisite for receiving the Torah. An explanation may be that to keep the Torah, one must make boundaries for himself; one must know how far he may go, what he may do, and where he must draw the line.
When the nation left Mitzrayim, Hashem led them along a longer route so the nation wouldn’t be tempted to return to Mitzrayim (see Shemos 13:17). The Shlah Hakadosh writes, “Recognize and understand how much a person must contemplate and make boundaries and fences for himself, so he doesn’t sin. Behold, Hakadosh Baruch Hu Himself distanced the nation so the nation shouldn’t return to Mitzrayim.”
The Shlah adds that this is implied in the pasuk (Yeshayah 57:19), ולקרוב לרחוק שלום שלום, “Peace to the far and the close." This suggests that someone who stays רחוק, far from an aveirah, is קרוב, close to Hashem.
The Midrash (Koheles Rabba 1:4) states: Apikorsim held many religious debates with Reb Yehudah ben Nikosa. Once, Reb Yehudah told them, "Let's arrange one more debate, and this debate will determine who is right once and for all. Whoever wins can beat his opponent’s head with a hammer." Reb Yehudah ben Nikosa won the debate and did to his opponents as they agreed. Reb Yehudah's students told him, "Rebbe, Heaven helped you! You won!" He replied, "Please daven for me because I used to be like a chest filled with precious gems, and now I was emptied, and I'm filled with ashes." He meant that after hearing all their heresy in the debate, he felt that he was affected by them.
We say this in response to those who say, "I use the internet, but it doesn't affect me. The internet is dangerous. If the Tana Reb Yehudah ben Nikosa felt affected by the apikorsim he heard, we could be sure that the internet isn't good for our neshamos. Unwillingly, we pick up on beliefs and lifestyles contrary to the Torah.
The Wonders of the Jewish Nation
Baruch Hashem Yidden are cautious with the internet, to the best of their abilities, which is miraculous. To live in this generation without internet use, or even with limited internet use, is remarkable and something we can be proud of.
Chazal (Megillah 2:) say, "The letters 'ם and 'ס of the luchos existed with a miracle." We can explain that the mem and the samech are closed from all sides, and they imply to erecting boundaries to guard ourselves against foreign influences. Chazal tell us בנס עומדים היו, doing so is nothing less than a miracle. That is the story of our generation. Among all Yidden, there is a desire to be cautious, and to a large extent, we are being successful. This is the result of the Jewish people's desire for purity and the siyata d'Shmaya Hashem gives us.
It states (Bamidbar 12:3) מכל מאד עניו משה והאיש האדמה פני על אשר האדם, "Moshe was exceedingly humble, more so than any person on the face of the earth." The Reshab of Lubavitch zt'l explains that Moshe Rabbeinu saw the sefer of Adam HaRishon that discusses all the people that will live throughout all the generations. He saw the people who will live in the generation before Moshiach comes. He saw the great tests they would endure, yet they would remain loyal to Hashem. When Moshe saw their steadfastness with their emunah in Hashem, even during such times, he became extremely humble.
Psikta Rabsa (36) states that the enemies of the Jewish nation and leaders of countries will say about the generation of Moshiach that they don't deserve to be redeemed. Hakadosh Baruch Hu will reply, "How do you speak against this generation? It is beautiful, and I love them. חפץ ואני בה שמח אני בה רוצה ואני בה אתמוך ואני בה, "I am happy with the generation, I desire them, I support them, and I want them. I will destroy all of you, but I will not destroy one of them."
These are very encouraging words, and they discuss our generation. It is a challenging time; there are many tests, but Hashem loves us in this generation. It is a time that reveals our greatness, not our faults. We are so exalted in this generation that even Moshe Rabbeinu felt humble towards us.
The Divrei Yoel of Satmar zt'l was in Kaliv for Rebbe Isaac Kaliver’s yahrtzeit, on the seventh of Adar. When he arrived, the day was almost over, and someone asked him, "Why did you come so late?" The Satmar Rebbe replied, "At a market, the greatest buys and the best merchandise are brought out at the end." Similarly, we say that the end of times is the most special time for Klal Yisrael. The tests are great, and because of them, our avodas Hashem is so precious to Hashem.
A shady money changer told a client, "If you give me five thousand dollars, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars of counterfeit money." The client didn't want to hear of it. The money changer explained, "No one will know they are counterfeit. They were made very well. You can test it if you want. Take the fifteen thousand dollars, bring them to the bank, and ask them if the money is counterfeit. They will tell you it isn't because it is so well made." The man took the money, went to several banks, and they all told him that the money was real. So, he agreed to the money changer's deal. He paid five thousand dollars and took the fifteen thousand counterfeit money. Soon afterward, a police officer pulled him over and said, "Let me see your money. I have a report that you have counterfeit money." Frightened, he explained that he didn't know it was counterfeit and gave the money to the policeman. The policeman left, and then the man realized he could have simply told the policeman that he didn’t have counterfeit money. He could have told the police, "Come with me to the bank, and they will tell you that it is real money." He immediately went to the police station and told them that one of the policemen had taken away his money for no reason, claiming it was counterfeit when it wasn't. The police showed him pictures of policemen, "Was this the person who took your money? Perhaps it was this person? Tell us who it was, and we will get your money back." But no face matched the policeman who had taken the money.
This is what really happened: The policeman was only dressed up like a policeman. He was a thief, working together with the money changer. The fifteen thousand dollars was real money; it wasn't counterfeit. The money changer and the fake policeman figured out how to steal money from people. The changer would take five thousand dollars from people and give them fifteen thousand dollars in exchange, claiming the money was counterfeit. After checking the money in the bank and hearing that the bank doesn't consider the cash counterfeit, they would agree to the deal. It was worthwhile for them to give five to take fifteen. Then, the policeman would show up, claim the money is counterfeit, and confiscate the funds. But a wise person would say to the policeman, "Why do you say it is counterfeit money? It is real money! You can test it in the bank and see that the money is valid."
The nimshal to this story is that the yetzer hara comes to people and says, "Your avodas Hashem is counterfeit. It isn't real. It has no genuine value." Many believe that the yetzer hara is telling the truth, and they, therefore, feel that there is no reason for them to continue serving Hashem. Why should they daven? Why should they learn Torah if their deeds are counterfeit and worthless? But the wise will proclaim that their avodas Hashem is valuable, and they won't let the yetzer hara stop them and prevent them from doing Hashem's service.
This is especially true in our times, the final generation, because we are at a time when we are very precious to Hashem. The yetzer hara will point to our aveiros and blow them out of proportion. The yetzer hara will say that all the good we do is counterfeit and valueless. But Hashem will say, "This is the nation whom I love. This is the avodas Hashem that I desire."
