היה עמך אלקים ויהי איעצך בקלי שמע עתה” הדברים את אתה והבאת האלקים מול לעם אתה (יט יח) “האלקים אל
Harav Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev once made an effort to nullify a bad decree that was hovering over the Jews of his generation, but he was not able to. He was then walking in the street and he met a poor woman who was broken and bitter. The tzaddik asked what was distressing her, and she replied: “We are so poor, and there is no meat in our house a whole week, but for Shabbos, I am usually able to buy a bit of meat so that my young children can eat meat at least in honor of Shabbos. But this week, the price of meat went up and I was not able to get even a small piece for Shabbos.” The tzaddik suggested that perhaps she should try that week to purchase treif meat, whose price was much lower. The woman, who did not know the tzaddik, burst out at him angrily: How do you speak – even if my children die of hunger I will not bring treif meat into my home!” The tzaddik heard this, and raised his eyes to the Heavens and said: “Ribbono shel Olam – look! Even the simplest people in Your nation are ready to be moser nefesh not to transgress the mitzvos of Your Torah.” And the decree was nullified.
Based on this, Rav Levi Yitzchak explained what Yisro advised Moshe: “I will advise you, and Hashem will be with you” – I will give you advice how to act at a time when middas hadin – expressed by the Name Elokim – is prevailing. “Heyei Atah la’am” – tell Am Yisrael to do things “mul ha’Elokim” – against the laws of Torah [because “negged” means “mul” like in the passuk (Shemos 19:2): “Vayichan sham Yisrael negged hahar”], “veheivesa atah es” – the response – “l’hadvarim” to these things “el ha’Elokim” and that is how the decree will be nullified.
Imrei Yehudah [Brezhan] New Edition, Terumah 5672
