וְעַבְדִִּ֣י כָל ֵ֗ב ע ִּ֣קֶב הָָֽיְתָָ֞ה ר֤ וּחַ אַחֶֶ֨רֶת֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיְמַל ֵּ֖א אַָֽחֲרָָ֑י וַהֲבִָֽיאֹתִֵ֗יו אֶל-הָאֶָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶר-בִָּ֣א שָּ֔ מָה וְזַרְ עֵּ֖וֹ יָֽוֹרִ שֶָֽנָה: (י"ד כ"ד )
("And my servant Kaleiv, since there was a different spirit with him, and he followed after me, and I will bring him to the land that he went to, and his offspring will inherit it." Bamidbar 14:24)
Ask the Ohr Hachaim haKadosh: What happened to Yehoshua? Why is Kaleiv singled out over here for praise and reward?
Says the Ohr haChaim haKadosh: Yehoshua had the prayer of Moshe Rabbeinu to help him out, whereas Kaleiv had to do things himself, and therefore had more of a challenge, and thus so much more reward.
Story:
Three stories regarding halacha (Jewish law):
1) The Brisker Rav z"l told his son Rebbi Berel: "Do not get busy with chumros (halachic stringencies), for they take a person out of learning. And as for me (that is involved in them) —I'm not able to really learn anymore anyways."
2) The Brisker Rav z"l said that Rebbi Chaim Aharon Torchin z"l was his favorite student, for everybody else comes to "copy-cat" and pick up chumros, whereas Rebbi Chaim Aharon actually comes just to learn!
3) The Brisker Rav z"l once commented: "They all come to "copy-cat" and pick-up chumros, whereas no one is actually interested in the Rambam (i.e. learning)!"
Bottom line: Anything other than the exact letter of the law is only to be done if it will be with joy and a happy heart.
Question:
What does the rav say about the current matzav (situation)?
Answer:
What "situation"? Are you breathing? So who cares. All the 99.99% of tremendous open-good going on all around means nothing, eh? Breaking bad character traits like negativity and living-without-Hashem comes way before anything else! And with that we guarantee you that there is nothing to worry about whatsoever, and you will definitely live to see Moshiach (the Messiah) in perfect health.
