Hashgachah Pratis in the Sefarim Hakedoshim
In Parshas Ki Seitzei we learn that it is forbidden for a Moavi or Amoni man to marry a regular Jewish woman. The Torah also gives a reason for this – the fact that they did not go out to greet Am Yisrael with bread and water.
We might ask: Why are they distanced forever for such a small error?
Rashi explains that it is not because of their lack of hospitality, but rather because of their conspiracy to cause Am Yisrael to sin. But if so, why is this not explicitly stated in the passuk?
The Kli Yakar answers: When a person is tired and hungry, he does not always check what is allowed and what is forbidden; he takes what is given to him. The reason they did not offer the Jews any bread or water was that they wanted Am Yisrael to become hungry and thirsty so when they’d be offered something they would eat it, and through this they would come to sin.
Hakadosh Baruch Hu knew this was their intention. Therefore, the passuk states (Devarim 23:5), “For their words behind their refusal to greet you” — for the conversations that led to this lack of giving.
From here we learn an important principle: Every act has an effect. Sometimes what seems to us not to be so problematic could actually have severe consequences.
Based on this we can take a lesson for the days of Chodesh Tishrei: We are coming closer to the exalted days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Every small act we do during these days has huge consequences. As we know, during the forty-eight hours of Rosh Hashanah the entire course of the year is determined. Anything we do for one moment on Rosh Hashanah has consequences.
The yetzer hara knows this too, and therefore it tries to cause us to stumble in very difficult nisyonos — in anger and in sadness. It is worth our while to be prepared, to think about where we have fallen in previous years, and to build a plan for how not to repeat it.
May Hashem help us to be zocheh to go through these holy days with serenity and calmness, and to be written and inscribed in the sefer of tzaddikim, for good life and peace; amen.
Excerpts from the popular shiur by Harav Hatzaddik R’ Beirish Shneebalg shlit”a
