Loving an ordinary child is not a big feat—because we get a smile and gratitude in return.... It is true that we give so much to our children, but they express הטוב הכרת to us.
But it is different with children who have left the path. When we show them rachmanus, we only get continued betrayal in return.... This is true compassion! Can there be any doubt that this evokes incredible רחמי שמים in the Heavens for Klal Yisrael in general and for this person in particular?! The tzaddikim taught us that this evokes the בנים על אב כרחם for the precise reason that this parent has now awakened a new level of רחמנות through his selfless compassion.
How Beloved We All Are by HaKadosh Baruch Hu!
Rebbe Yitzchak of Radvil writes incredible words that teach us the preciousness of every Yid. “My brothers! Look how treasured Klal Yisrael is to Hashem; one Jewish soul is more precious to the Borei Olam than the entire Torah!
When a child goes on the path opposite to Torah, R”l, and we continue to give that child unconditional love—without any calculations—this awakens the tremendous love that Hashem has for us.
It is very understandable that a parent would feel resentment toward such a child. We are human, after all. But the avodah is to carry out this shlichus to the best of our ability—to love these children and to have compassion on them. And we can do so, because Hashem does so! “One Jewish soul is more precious to the Borei Olam than the entire Torah!”
In the sefer Bas Ayin, it is brought that one who doesn’t believe that Hashem loves the greatest ba’al aveirah is considered an apikoros. Rebbe Shloime of Karlin said, “Halevai, I would love the greatest tzaddik as much as Hashem loves the greatest rasha!” And there are similar versions of this saying from numerous other holy tzaddikim.
The Special Nachas Ruach in the Heavens from the Depths of Klipah
“The Scent of the Betrayers”
In the Midrash (Parashas Toldos 27; Yalkut Shimoni 27) on the pasuk וירח בגדיו ריח את, Yitzchak smelled the scent of Gan Eden on Yaakov’s clothing, it is explained that he smelled the scent of the Gan Eden from the betrayers (the root of the word בגד can also mean betrayal). Yitzchak foresaw those children of Yaakov who will betray the path of Torah—such as the legendary ba’alei aveirah Yosef Meshisa and Yakum Ish Tzroros—and thus he agreed to give Yaakov the berachos.
The Teshuvah of Yosef Meshisa
Who was Yosef Meshisa? The Midrash tells us that when the enemies of Klal Yisrael came to the Beis HaMikdash, they were afraid to enter, fearing that they would be punished. They looked for a Yid who would agree to go in first, and they found Yosef Meshisa, a Yid who was weak in Torah observance. As an incentive, they promised him that he can take one item from the Beis HaMikdash for himself.
Yosef went inside and saw the golden Menorah. He wanted to keep it for himself, but the enemies told him that such a simple person can’t have such a treasured artifact. So, they offered that he could go in a second time and take something else.
This time, Yosef refused—even when he was offered all the tax money for three years. He said, “Is it not enough that I angered my Creator once, I should anger him again?!” The reshaim placed him on a table and began cutting him into pieces, but he continued to cry out: “Woe is to me that I angered my Creator!”
The Teshuvah of Yakum Ish Tzroros
And who was Yakum Ish Tzroros? Says the Midrash, he was a nephew of Yosei ben Yoezer Ish Tzreidah. Once, as he rode a horse on Shabbos, he witnessed the Romans preparing to murder his illustrious uncle. Brazenly, he called out to his uncle, “Look at the horse that my master made me ride. [That is, ‘I am a rasha who listens to the yetzer hara, and I am successful’], and look at the horse that your Master made you ride. [That is, ‘You followed Hashem, and this is what you got in return’].
Yosei retorted, “If this is the fate of those who follow His will, how much more so that of those who anger Him!” These words entered the heart of Yakum, and he went to do teshuvah with great mesirus nefesh. He recognized how distant he was from Hashem, and he prepared to accept upon himself all the misos beis din; he indeed merited to do complete teshuvah and earned a portion in the World to Come.
Teshuvah with Pnimiyus Brings Incredible Nachas Ruach
Says the Midrash that Yitzchak gave Yaakov the berachos because of people like these two reshaim. He sensed the pintele Yid that lies deep inside the hearts of such individuals—more so than in others!
We are unable to measure these issues, and this is why we need the emunah to believe that the eventual teshuvah that will come forth later on will bring a tremendous scent of Gan Eden, deeper than all the greatness of the tzaddikim!
When parents understand the potential עדן גן ריח that can still emanate from their children, they will understand that for now, all they need to do is carry out their mission of love and compassion! This is their only mission!
This mission involves many tears and extraordinary pain that no Yid should know... but אגרא צערא לפום, as great as the pain is, so is the reward. The more they invest in loving their children—in this sacred mission entrusted to them by HaKadosh Baruch Hu—the more they will merit טובה בשיבה תיקבר, to see a joyful conclusion and nachas from their children.
