You Owe Everything to Hashem
The Passuk talks about the future punishments that will befall the Jewish nation if they bow down to idols. The Baal HaTurim says¹ the same is true with other forms of Avoda Zara besides bowing. Notice how: הִשְׁתַּחַוָואָה bowing is singled out as the form of Avoda Zara. Chazal say that whoever doesn't bow down to Avoda Zara is called a “Yehudi”. Why? Yehudi means "Thank You Hashem". Avodas Hashem VS. Avoda Zara is basically who you are Modeh to as the One who you owe everything to. By not bowing down to Avoda Zara, you are saying that you owe everything to Hashem and not to Avoda Zara. It says that כָּל הַמְחַלֵל שַׁבָּת כְּאִילוּ עוֹבֵד עַבוֹדָה זָרָה רמב"ם סוף הל' שבת, ל טו a M'chalel Shabbos is compared to an Oved Avoda Zara. What does Shabbos have to do with Avoda Zara?
Actually, Shabbos is a mystery. A Jew makes his resting day, holy. Shouldn't the days of work be more precious? What is doing "nothing” worth? By: בְּרִיאַת הָעוֹלָם Hashem's creation of the world, it says: וַיַּרְא אֱלֹקִים כִּי טוֹב "He saw it was good”. Hashem was happy with the world that He created, and by Yom HaShishi (the 6th day) it says וְהִנֵּה טוֹב מְאֹד א לא "He saw that the world was very good”, and the Rashbam says that everything was perfect with no need to fix anything.
Resting Means Being Happy and Content and Appreciating
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ בג Hashem blessed the Shabbos because that was the day He rested from His work. We can suggest that Shabbos and resting mean being happy and content and appreciating all the work done. We can suggest that this is why it says: שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַה' אֱלֹקִיךָ יתרו כ ט-י You work 6 days and then you appreciate those 6 days! Oneg Shabbos is to celebrate all your hard work in Ruchaniyus and in Gashmiyus, just like Hashem appreciated the work of His beautiful creation.
Being Thankful for What Is Going on in Your Life Is Most Important
The holiest thing in the world is to appreciate what you have. You may sit back and do zero, but you are thankful for what is going on in your life, and this is most important. Rabeinu B'chayei says that there for not serving Hashem with Simcha.
The Ikar Is How Much You Appreciate, Not How Much You Do
Not appreciating is the same idea as Chilul Shabbos. And this is why people without self-appreciation suffer so much; they are missing the Ikar! And this is why the Churban happened, because: שֶׁלֹא בֵּרְכוּ בַּתּוֹרָה תְחִלָּה נדרים פא א they did not say a Bracha before learning Torah, and the Ran says that they weren't Machshiv and didn't appreciate their own Torah, and that causes Churban. The song of Shabbos is: מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת טוֹב לְהֹדוֹת לַה' תהלים צב א-ב "It's good to thank Hashem", because the whole idea of Shabbos is לְהודות to thank Hashem.
דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי וְקַיָּם
Thanking Causes Continuity, The Opposite of Churban
And this is why: כָּל הַמְחַלֵל שַׁבָּת כְּאִילוּ עוֹבֵד עַבוֹדָה זָרָה רמב"ם סוף הל' שבת, ל טו a M'chalel Shabbos is compared to an Oved Avoda Zara, because Avoda Zara means: הִשְׁתַּחַוָואָה bowing to Avoda Zara, the opposite of being a “Yehudi” who thanks and gives credit to Hashem. Dovid HaMelech spent half a night learning, and the other half singing and thanking for the Torah that he learned during the first half. (R' Zundel of Salant). This is why: דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי וְקַיָּם Dovid lasts forever, since he was the #1: נְעִים זְמִרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל ש"ב כג א sweet singer from Shevet “Yehuda” who always thanked, and thanking causes continuity and the opposite of Churban. Like the Gevuras Ari says that Dovid lasted and Shaul did not, because Dovid praised and thanked Hashem to the extreme. So if anyone wants to last in Olam HaZeh and in Olam HaBah, get into more and more thanking; the more extreme, the more you'll last. We all know that the greatness of Shmuel HaNavi as that he was known for anointing two kings. He was the person who created Malchus Bais Dovid. And at the end of Shiras Chana (which we read on Rosh Hashanah), the very last words she said was: וְיָרֵם קֶרֶן מְשִׁיחוֹ ש"א ב Hashem will lift up the horn of His anointed (i.e., Dovid). All the greatness of Chana was that she was Zoche to produce Shmuel who created Malchus Bais Dovid. And the greatness of Malchus Bais Dovid is that it lasts forever, and our much-desired Moshiach Tzid'keinu is none other than Dovid himself. And: דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי וְקַיָּם the power of Dovid lasts forever and has a Kiyum (perpetuation). Not Shaul or anyone else.
The Biggest Shviras HaMiddos Is Thanking and Having Bitachon
Dovid was the person most known for breaking his Middos and going against his nature by loving his enemies and having the most Bitachon. According to R' Yosef Zalman Bloch Shlita, the reason why Dovid lasted was because he had Bitachon. (Sefer Iggeres Al HaBitachon®). And Bitachon is also breaking your natural Tevah to worry. But the Gevuras Ari explains that Dovid sang excessively, and especially the merit of his singing during his pain, like it says: אִם חֶסֶד אָשִׁירָה, אִם מִשְׁפָּט אָשִׁירָה Dovid sings to Hashem not only when life is comfortable, but even when he has difficulties.
The Origin of Dovid Was a Person Who Was Overly Involved in Thanking
At the beginning of Sefer Shmuel, we have the story of how Shmuel HaNavi was born. It starts with the story of his father, Elkana who used to go to Shilo to bring Korbanos. For some reason it mentions twice that he was: מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה bowed to Hashem before he left. Why is this so important to mention? We can suggest that the Shoresh (origin) of Dovid Malka Meshicha was a person who was overly involved in thanking, which bowing-down symbolizes.
People who are extreme in thankfulness are Zoche to Nisei Nissim
and Chana his wife gave birth to Shmuel after being an: עַקְרָה barren for 130 years. And she was the Shoresh (origin) of: דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי וְקַיָּם Dovid, who lives forever. And she ended her Shira with: וְיָרֵם קֶרֶן מְשִׁיחוֹ ש"א ב י Hashem will lift up the horn of His anointed (i.e., Dovid). Thanking is life itself like Dovid said: מַה בֶּצַע בְּדָמִי בְּרִדְתִּי אֶל שָׁחַת הֲיוֹדְךָ עָפָר הֲיַגִּיד אֲמִתֶּךָ תהלים לי What good am I if I'm dead, since then I can't thank Hashem, and speak about the truth of the Creator who created me and created the whole world.
Choose Life!
The Torah says to choose life. This sounds odd. Who doesn't want to live? The answer is that "life" means thanking Hashem who gave you life, & thanking for life makes you live more. Right after the Passuk says “chose life", it says: וְאִם יִפְנֶה לְבָבְךָ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָ לֵאלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וַעֲבַדְתָּם ל יז lest you stray and “bow-down" to Avoda Zara. Notice how Avoda Zara is described as a false bowing down in the wrong direction. And that means death and evil (Rashi¹⁰); i.e., NOT thanking Hashem. And indeed, you might be a big Tzadik and Talmid Chochom, but you didn't really choose life if you aren't in the thanking mode, which is just like bowing down to Avoda Zara. R' Shach Zatzal said that the reason for: צַדִּיק וְרַע לו the suffering of the righteous is because they don't thank Hashem a billion times a day. The Gr'a says: עִיקָר חִיוּת הָאָדָם שְׁבִירַת הַמְדוֹת the main existence of a person is for Shviras HaMiddos, and the biggest Shviras HaMiddos is thanking and having Bitachon instead of kvetching. A Baal Bitachon is a person who, like Dovid, thanks for bad things since he knows that they are really good, and/or they will soon become good: כְּפְּשׁוּטוֹ in an obvious way.
רַבֵּינוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאִיר הַכֹּהֵן בַּעַל הַחָפֵץ חַיִים כ"ד אלול תרצ"ג TRUE STORY
The Chofetz Chaim used to travel to sell his Seforim. Once he arrived in Vilna, and he went into an inn to rest and eat. Seated next to him was a Yid who ate without a Bracha. The innkeeper advised the Chofetz Chaim not to say anything to this person, since he was a Cantonist. At 7 years old he had been kidnapped and drafted into Czar Nicholai's army, and he returned home after 25 years of Gehinom. Giving him Tochacha is a waste of time, and he can even be violent and hurt you, Chas V'shalom. The Chofetz Chaim wasn't afraid. He went over to the man and told him that he heard all about him, and he actually admired him. Instead of growing up with loving parents who would protect him from evil, he was exposed to a world of violence and barbarism. Instead of receiving a normal Jewish education with Torah and Chumash and Gemara, he was taught how to use weapons, and to worship Avoda Zara in the Russian church. He was forced to forget his Jewish roots and the Torah, and to eat Treife and do all kinds of wicked sins. The Chofetz Chaim told him: “I am jealous of you, and I wish I had a portion of Olam HaBah like you!” The man was flabbergasted and amazed at these words. He asked the Chofetz Chaim: “Who are you?" He told him: “Yisroel Meir Kagan”. The man exclaimed: "How can the famous Chofetz Chaim be jealous of me?" The Chofetz Chaim answered: "You have every reason to be bitter and angry at Hashem, and abandon Yiddishkeit altogether and decide to enjoy a Goyishe life. Yet, you are careful not to eat Treife, and you still want to be connected with Yiddishkeit. You still have plenty innate Kedusha, and you've chosen to make Hashem proud. I envy your determination and Mesirus Nefesh, and your Olam HaBah is way ahead of everybody". The Chofetz Chaim offered to help him perfect himself, and he was sold! Slowly but surely, the Chofetz Chaim helped him become a complete Baal Teshuva.¹¹ The criminal soldier by focusing on the positive! People make a Cheshbon HaNefesh and all they focus on is their sins. Sometimes it's okay, but often it would be preferable to work on appreciating all your positive points, and then you accomplish much more with the Zechus of Simcha Shel Mitzva. And the positive spreads when you appreciate it. Your Simcha level skyrockets, and your Zechusim multiply.
NOVARDOK
R' Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky Zatzal was a phenomenal speaker, just like the Alter Zatzal. They could get you to laugh till your sides ached, and they could get you to cry hot tears, and open your stone heart in a short time, and get you to think of the reality of Yom HaDin. The Emes of how people waste their lives, Rachmana Litzlan. During Elul, he would say that the sky is like an iron wall, and you need to break through with fiery Tefilos, and scream with your whole heart, etc. Afterwards, they would daven Ma'ariv, and it was an unforgettable Ma'ariv. R' Chaim Shapiro Zatzal once davened Ma'ariv in a Novardok Yeshiva. Although it was a regular weekday, it sounded like Yom Kippur during Neila. A former Kletzker Talmid once told me that he Davka davens in Bais Yosef of Boro Park since they really daven. There was once an Asifa in Baranovich, and there were two speakers. The first speaker did a terrible job and nobody enjoyed listening to him. R' Chofetz Chaim didn't focus on this man's: גִילוּי ראש bare head (without a yarmulke) and no Birchas HaMazon. He focused only on his sacrifice and only his goodness. By the way, R' Chaim Ozer Zatzal and all Gedolei Yisroel admired the Chofetz Chaim, and they said that he knew what was going on in Shamayim. He wasn't lying when he said that he envied this man's Olam HaBah. He wasn't just trying to make him feel good, when he consoled him for his lack of Torah and Kedusha and Avodas Hashem because of his difficult Nisyonos and bad background, or other weaknesses which gave him so many disadvantages in Avodas Hashem. I know a Yungerman who works with hundreds of people. They all complain that they wish that they would be able to overcome their Ta'avos and not have such a lifetime struggle. Despite the big Zechusim they have when they are Mis'gaber over their Yetzer Hara, they still have plenty of sins, Rachmana Litzlan, and they are very embarrassed. He told them that Hashem has much more nachas from people who struggle, than from people who aren't so challenged. Despite hearing this, it's still extremely difficult to appreciate your struggle,and: לְפוּם צַעֲרָא אַגְרָא אבות ה כב )appreciating your pain for doing a Mitzva) is like a Meis Mitzva (abandoned Mitzva). The Yetzer Hara to put yourself down is super powerful. Look how the Chofetz Chaim won over this hardened Yisroel Yaakov was next, and the shul was packed with Baranovich Talmidim who wanted to hear R' Yisroel Yaakov who was Gevaldig. To their surprise, he spoke terribly. Here they were, all so excited to hear the #1 speaker and to get inspiration for Teshuva, and they get zero! Not embarrassing the first speaker was more important to R' Yisroel Yaakov than all the Zechusim and Mitzvos in the universe. Once, the Alter of Slabodka was a chazan in a shul, and he davened terribly. They found out that the regular chazan who was saying kaddish that year didn't know how to daven, and they were making fun of him. R' Yisroel Yaakov once had his beard singed by the fire of a furnace, when he refused to turn around. He didn't want to embarrass the Shamos who had kicked him from behind, since he didn't know that it was R' Yisroel Yaakov. I heard from R' Ahron Kreiser Zatzal that R' Yisroel Yaakov was extremely careful when he talked to people. He measured his words to make double sure that he wouldn't cause the slightest pain to any human. When he went to Yeshiva in the morning he would pass by his mother's house. She was careful not to be seen by him, because if he saw her he would get so carried away with helping and caring for her that he would end up not going to Yeshiva where he had a busy schedule. He was a true Adam Gadol and totally Novardok. At Chasuna's he was the entertainer, and (among other things) he would lay down on the floor with all kinds of shtick. This was in front of the greatest Torah dignitaries in Europe. No fear was allowed in Novardok. Like all Novardokers, he was in a constant major war against Kavod all his life. And being M'sameach Yidden is an Ikar Avoda in Novardok, especially if you can fight Kavod at the same time and kill two birds with one stone. Singing grammen at Chasuna's was also one of his Pe'ulos, and in France I've seen Davka very inhibited types of Yungerleit take over the microphone and run the show at all kinds of Simchos. This was called a "Prat”, to overcome a weakness of fear of people, and at the same time do a Mitzva of bringing Simcha. R' Yisroel Yaakov was very, very B'simcha'dik. Imagine, they say he learned Mussar all day! So next time you're worried about getting depressed from learning too much Mussar, remember R' Yisroel Yaakov! Remember that Novardokers were always building up the importance of Mussar and praising it. R' Gershon Zatzal once told me that it's worth learning Mussar all your life about the importance of learning Mussar.
If You Appreciate Mussar, It Works for You
Mussar pays you back. If you appreciate it, then it works for you! If you've talked it into yourself that Mussar makes you depressed, then Mussar will give you exactly what you think of it. In Novardok they understood that if you were happy or sad or angry about something, you needed to pinpoint what was causing it, and learn Mussar about that specific issue. I've seen Novardokers walk out of a Bais HaBedidus with their faces beaming. You examine your life in a quiet place, you realize the Dimyon of your unnecessary worry, and you learn the right Mussar that wipes it away, depending on how long you learn it.
