RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
“יאר ד' פניו אליך ויחנך6:25אדרת אליהו - “ – “May Hashem illuminate His countenance toward you, and endow you with grace.“
Eisav wanted to be the ruler over Yaakov, for the posuk says, “כבד את אביך ואת אמיך,” and the Gemara in Kesubos 103a says that the “את” comes to include the bechor – that the bechor is also to be honored; thus, Yaakov must honor the bechor, Eisav. However, when Klal Yisroel is toiling in the Torah Hakdoshah, Eisav’s argument does not apply, for Yaakov would have a better reason that Eisav actually must honor him.
The posuk in Devorim 6:13 says, “את ד אלקיך תירא” – and the Gemara on Pesachim 22b says that the word, “את” in the posuk comes to include a talmid chochom; one must be in awe of, and honor, a talmid chochom. When there is a younger brother who is a talmid chochom, his older brother is obligated to honor him. Although there is the drosha of “את” to teach us that the older brother should be honored, nonetheless, the honor of the Torah is more important, and thus the older brother needs to give kavod to his younger brother, the talmid chochom. Chazal also tell us that it is in the zechus of the Torah Hakdoshah that the geulah will come, as the posuk in Vayikra 16:3 says, “בזאת יבא אהרן אל הקודש”. The Midrash tells us that, “בזאת” – in the zechus of the Torah, which is called, “”יבא אהרן אל הקודשזאת“, ” – Aharon will be zoche to go into the kodesh, with the coming of the Geulah.
Yaakov and Eisav made a deal to split the two worlds: Yaakov got olam haba, and Eisav got olam hazeh. If Eisav received olam hazeh, then how can Klal Yisroel have any benefit from olam hazeh? Without the Torah, there would not be a world. Since without the Torah study of Yaakov, Klal Yisroel, there would not be a world, that means that Eisav’s world is lost, and Klal Yisroel is saving it. Since Klal Yisroel are the ones giving life to this world, they are entitled to it, as the case of זוטו של ים, stated in Bava Metzia 24a. If someone rescues an object that is not his from the throes of the sea, he is allowed to keep it. Since it was in the sea, it was lost from the person who originally owned it, so someone who saves the object is allowed to keep it.
The same applies with hana’ah of matters of this world, olam hazeh. “יאר ד' פניו אליך” – through the light of Torah, much good will come upon Klal Yisroel: Firstly, “יאר” – they will be saved from the dominion of other nations, for since they have the Torah, the other nations need to have kavod for them, as the Torah says, “את ד' אלקיך תירא“ – ”את” – to include talmidei chachomim. If they need to honor the talmid chochom, they certainly are not allowed to subjugate them. Additionally, learning Torah will cause, “ויחונך” – that Klal Yisroel will be zoche to the geulah. Thirdly, “ישא ד' פניו אליך” – Klal Yisroel will be zoche to great riches and wealth even in this world, for since it is their Torah that is keeping the world going, it is like the case of זוטו של ים – and thus Klal Yisroel are zoche to olam hazeh.
