A Message from the Kalever Rebbe
Parshas Ki Sisa 5784
It's not worth it to look for loopholes to circumvent the laws of Shabbos | "Keep the Sabbath, for it is a sacred thing for you." (Shemos 31:14)
There is an incredible story about R' Moshe Leib from Sossov, zt"l, that has a practical and relevant moral about keeping Shabbos:
The Rebbe once arrived at a village on Erev Shabbos. He saw a Jewish bartender selling wine to the non-Jews at a tavern. He seemed to be completely unaware that Shabbos was rapidly approaching; he didn't seem to have any intention of closing. The Rebbe approached him and said, "It will be Shabbos soon and it is forbidden to do any business transactions on Shabbos."
"I cannot stop working on Shabbos," explained the merchant. "My wife and children are depending on me. If I don't serve my customers on Shabbos somebody else will. My entire livelihood will be lost!"
"I understand," the Rebbe replied, "but you must nevertheless not sell beverages on Shabbos. The Sages have taught us that when a Jew observes Shabbos properly and according to the Jewish law, they will not suffer any losses as a result."
The Jew acquiesced to the Rebbe's request. And, he let his customers know that beginning the following week, the tavern would be closed on Shabbos and Yom Tov.
When the customers heard this, they were upset. They went to the tavern's owner and told him that the Jewish bartender refused to work on Shabbos. Outraged, the owner went to the Jewish bartender and said, "How dare you make new rules for my tavern!"
"Until recently I did not know that the Torah forbids doing business on Shabbos," explained the Jew, "but a wise Jew recently came to our village. He was fluent in all the Jewish laws. He explained that I have not been behaving in accordance with the Jewish law until now and that I am not allowed to work on Shabbos."
"It seems to me," answered the owner, "that even this wise Jew would not be willing to suffer a financial loss for the sake of observing Shabbos. How can he ask you to? I want to test his sincerity by presenting him with a similar dilemma. If he remains steadfast in his convictions, I will agree to keep the tavern closed on Shabbos."
To test the Rebbe, the owner decided to scatter a large sum of money in the bushes along the path that the Rebbe would take on his way to shul the following Shabbos.
And, he waited to see what the Rebbe would do.
He saw the Rebbe approaching. When he reached the scattered money, the Rebbe kept walking as if he hadn't seen them at all. However, the Rebbe suddenly stopped and turned back. He leaned over and carefully examined the money. He lifted his head and raised his hands towards the heavens as if in prayer. After a few moments, the Rebbe continued along his way.
The tavern owner emerged from his hiding place and chased after the Rebbe. When he caught up with him, he said, "Holy man! You passed my test by withstanding temptation. Please forgive me for doubting the sincerity of your words. I realize that you are willing to sacrifice a large sum of money for the sake of Shabbos and its holiness. From now on I will keep my tavern closed on Shabbos. However, I have a question. At first, you passed the money without seeming to give it notice. Then, you turned around and carefully examined the money and seemed to pray. Why?"
"At first," answered the Rebbe, "I passed by the money and didn't even think to stop knowing that it was Shabbos. As I walked, my Yetzer Harah whispered to me, 'You are constantly involved in trying to redeem Jews from prison. Think of how much good this money can help you fund this critical mitzvah!' I began to reason with myself that perhaps there was a way that I could place the money in my possession until after Shabbos. After all, saving a life supersedes the laws of Shabbos. So I went back to see if there was enough money to save one's life by securing their freedom from prison. Sure enough, the sum was exactly what is usually required to fulfill this mitzvah! Then, my Yetzer Harah said, 'See! The Heavens have provided exactly the amount you need for this mitzvah. ' I didn't know what to do.
"So, I prayed that Hashem provide me with a clear head to know what to do. Immediately I realized, that I currently did not need to fulfill now the mitzvah, and if Hashem was presenting me with a sum of money for future use, He certainly can provide me with the funds when they are necessary in a way that is without reproach or questionability."
This story teaches us a powerful lesson: We do not need to look for loopholes to circumvent the laws of Shabbos to earn money, even if you want to use that money for a mitzvah.
Non-Jews have a philosophy that the "ends justify the means." However, this is not a Jewish belief. This is not one of our values. Just as it is forbidden to use matzah that was acquired through thievery, that Hashem despises the mitzvah of eating matzah that is fulfilled with stolen matzah, so too, Hashem despises any mitzvah that is performed at the cost of desecrating Shabbos. Since Hashem is the ultimate provider of one's livelihood and their wealth, he can provide you with completely Kosher funds, and you cannot gain anything from violating His Will.
This is possibly alluded to by the pasuk above. Keep the Sabbath - completely without looking for leniencies in the pursuit of money, because Hashem who is sacred is the one who is providing for you all your needs.
| A Message from the Kalever Rebbe
Parshas Tetzaveh 5784
Adding a Filter is a "Segulah" for Purity | "Whatever touches the altar will be holy." (Shemos 29:37)
The Wings of Angels
The Baal Shem Tov, zt"l, was once travelling with his students. Suddenly he instructed the wagon to stop as they were approaching a nearby home. And, he said, "Go see how a yid bakes matzos. "
Obediently, the students quietly snuck up to a window and looked inside where they saw a husband and wife preparing dough for matzah. They kneaded the dough and placed it to the side as they went to go prepare the oven.
This couple clearly did not know the Jewish laws concerning baking matzah. With so much time passing, the dough would certainly rise! The students were confused: why would the Baal Shem Tov ask them to watch someone improperly bake matzah?
However, the Baal Shem Tov took his hands and passed them before the eyes of his students and they suddenly saw a splendid vision: angels were descending from heaven and their wings were beating the dough to prevent it from rising.
The Baal Shem Tov then explained that the Heavens saw, that this couple had a pure and sincere desire to fulfill the mitzvah of baking matzos, but they were uneducated and didn't know that they weren't allowed to leave the dough unattended for such a long time, so the angels descended into this world to protect the dough from rising and, thereby, preserving their mitzvah.
This Heavenly protection that the Baal Shem Tov revealed to his students in that moment also safeguards the matzah of all the Torah scholars. R' Uri from Strelisk, zt"l, taught: From the time water and flour are mixed together it is nearly impossible for the dough not to rise even a little bit. However, when Hashem sees that the Jews are eagerly and diligently trying to bake matzah properly, He sends Angels into the world to prevent that dough from rising and turning into Chameitz.
Beyond the Leaven Bread
This is true of all the mitzvos. Chazal taught (Makkos 10b): along the path a person wishes to proceed, they lead and assist him. The Maharsha notes that this sentence is written in plural form, and it also does not say that Hashem leads him. Therefore, he infers that this is referring to the angels that are created by a yid's desire, aspiration for goodness and their effort to do mitzvos properly. These angels come into this world to help him on his spiritual journey.
This concept is even more relevant as Jews today face tremendous spiritual challenges. Naturally, it is nearly impossible for a person to always behave completely holy. Nowhere is this reality more evident than with the proliferation of smart devices and the internet. Even the secular world recognizes the danger of these devices on one's mental and emotional well-being. Nevertheless, they don't succeed to protect themselves or safeguard their children.
Without Heavenly help, a person cannot succeed. As Chazal taught (Kiddushin 30b) that without Hashem's help a yid cannot overcome his Yetzer Harah.
But when a yid commits to a life of holiness, when they want to begin to establish safeguards and boundaries to preserve their holiness, they merit Heavenly assistance. As Chazal taught (Yuma 38b) all who want to purify themselves receive Heavenly help.
The pasuk (11:44) says, you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am holy... The Or HaChaim (and the Alishich, Vayirka 20:7) explains that if a person makes an effort to preserve and safeguard their holiness, then Hashem promises that they will be holy, they will succeed, and they will acquire purity. If a person shall sanctify yourselves, then it is guaranteed that they will be holy. And, that Heavenly help expands and even protects you from challenges you cannot even imagine yet.
Just do!
A person must try and do his very best to protect himself from impure forces.
R' Baruch of Mezibush, zt"l, explained that we see an example of this when Pharaoh's daughter first saw the basket carrying Moshe. The basket was a great distance away, yet, as the Torah relates, she stretched out her hand (Shemos 2:5). Even though the basket was beyond reach, she tried, and, therefore, merited a miracle and was able to reach the basket. This teaches us that when we try to do a mitzvah - even if it seems impossible - Hashem helps us succeed.
In this light, Chazal taught (Shir HaShirim Rabba 5:3) that Hashem instructs us to: open an opening for me like the point of a needle and I will open an opening for you like the opening of a hall. The Seforim HaKedoshim explain that we must make an initial effort, and try our hardest, even if it feels like we are trying to pierce a thick wall with the point of a needle.
However, when it comes to life's most difficult spiritual challenges, we receive help from Above even with the slightest effort. The pasuk says (Shemos 12:23), and the Lord will pass over the entrance... R' Baruch of Mezibush, zt"l, explained that during the exodus from Eygpt, the Jew had fallen to the lowest possible spiritual state; they were on the 49th level of impurity. Therefore, Hashem "passed" over the "opening" – that initial effort - and redeemed the Jews without it.
R' Yehoshua from Belz, zt"l, taught that nowadays we don't even have the strength or fortitude for that small effort of the "point of a needle." We need Hashem to even do that for us. Similarly, R' Noach from Lechavitch, zt"l, said about his generation that they need to keep in mind the words of Rosh Hashana davening: Who opens the door to those who knock in repentance... Hashem opens those gates even for the person who is merely knocking.
We are living in the last generation before the arrival of Moshiach. The forces of impurity are in an abundance and holiness is becoming more difficult to find and connect to. When a person exerts a little effort, when they do something simple like adding a filter to their phone and smart devices, they fulfill the words of Chazal (Yuma 39a): "If a person sanctifies himself even a little below, he is greatly sanctified from Above".
This can be the meaning of our pasuk. Whatever touches the altar – even a person who merely touches the altar to sacrifice his Yetzer Harah, then, as the pasuk continues, he will be holy – sanctified from Above with Heavenly assistance. | |
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