Esav chickened out of his burden completely so he lost his share in Eretz Yisrael. The tribe of Levi didn’t avoid any burden, they just chose which burden to undertake, the yoke of Torah, toiling in Torah study day and night. Therefore they still had a right to a share in Eretz Yisrael and in the merit of their diligence in Torah they merited such closeness to Hashem that Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon Hakohen were from Shevet Levi.
Similarly, we find that the Midrash (Bereishis Rabba 60-2) calls Eliezer the servant of Avraham, a Eved Maskil – a smart servant. What was smart about Eliezer?
Eliezer knew that he was a descendant of Cham who was cursed by Noach that his descendants would be slaves. Eliezer decided, why wait for some cruel master, instead he decided to become a servant of Avraham, studied Torah and merited to teach what he learned to others. Eliezer took the curse and used it in the best way possible.
So much so that the Midrash writes (Yalkut Shimoni Bereishis 24) that Eliezer merited to enter Gan Eden alive.
But the truth is, the same is with all of us.
Adam Harishon was cursed to work and sweat for his bread. A person can sweat at work or a person can decide to toil and sweat in Torah study.
Vienna was known as the city with top doctors and professors. People travelled from all over to Vienna to try and solve their medical conditions. The doctors’ fees weren’t cheap, plus travelling expenses and accommodations.
There was a righteous wealthy Jew in Vienna who opened his home for Jews visiting the city, that they could have free lodging and meals. He used his connections to help his guests that they could meet the top professors and even helped towards the fees. Although his home became an open house and public property, he felt it a privilege every time another guest arrived, a gift from Hashem.
However, his wife found it very difficult. She had no privacy, her home was always buzzing with noise. She started putting pressure on her husband that he should stop.
Her husband was in a dilemma what to do. On one hand he didn’t want to give up such a great Mitzva, on the other hand, his Shalom Bayis was at stake.
That year 5683-1923, in Elul the first Kenesia Gedolah took place in Vienna, attended by many leading great Rabbanim, including the Chafetz Chaim (which is where the famous video of the Chafetz Chaim was taken).
The man decided to go and ask the Chafetz Chaim what he should do.
The host invited the man into his home. He told him that the Chafetz Chaim was eating breakfast. He suggested that he stand on the side, have the opportunity to watch the Chafetz Chaim during his meal and afterwards he could approach the Chafetz Chaim with his question.
During breakfast the Chafetz Chaim said Mizmor LeDavid (Tehillim 23) as he writes in the Mishna Berurah (170-1), to pray for ones Parnassa and fulfill the Halacha of Torah study during ones meal.
He finished the last verse, ‘Ach tov vachessed yirdefuni kol yemei chayai, veshavti beveis Hashem le’orech yamim.’ – only good and kindness should pursue me all my life, and I should merit to sit in the house of Hashem forever.
The Chafetz Chaim started talking to himself aloud, “the saying goes that an idiot turns gold into garbage and a smart man turns garbage into gold. A person receives wealth from Hashem, if he’s smart he gives charity, does good things with his money, supports Torah study and he turns the wealth into an eternal treasure house. If he is stupid, he wastes it on delicacies and luxuries, and turns his wealth into garbage.”
“And there is a person that Hashem gives him garbage, Chas veshalom, he endures suffering. If is smart, he tries to use his suffering for good things, Torah study in poverty, doing Chessed with great difficulty and he turns the garbage into gold. As our Rabbis teach us, we toil and they toil, we toil and receive reward, they toil and don’t receive reward (part of the passage said at every Siyum Masechte).”
“There is a person,” continued the Chafetz Chaim, “that his fate is to suffer and he takes in guests. They bother him, disturb him, steal his privacy, complain, make mess and it is very difficult. But this way he has received the suffering in a way that will bring him such great reward. And on top of it all, his wife finds it so difficult too, the reward is indescribable.”
“This is what David Hamelch prayed, if I am meant to be pursued, may it be from the charity and kindness I do. In this way I will merit great reward to dwell in the house of Hashem in Gan Eden forever.”
