The Weekly Dvar Torah
Volume I Issue #7a
Big Blessings Come in Small Sizes
Parshas Chukas
Adapted from the wisdom of Rav Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk from the Meshech Chochmoh and Rav Tzadok HaCohen from Pri Tzadik and other works.
By Rav Yitzchak Schwartz Rosh Yeshiva Orchos Chaim Jerusalem
yschwartz@orchos.org.
The more the merrier! It is only natural to think that way when dealing with material blessings. That may be true in the realm of mundane material blessings. However, when we receive a blessing from Hashem, the smaller the physical quantity the greater the blessing is. It is no wonder that after partaking of a four course meal that you will be satiated. On the other hand, it would be a great wonder if you ate a spoonful of food and feel even more satisfied than after consuming all four courses. Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk teaches a fascinating and important fundamental. The most elevated blessings, the ones that Hashem confers with grace and illuminated countenance, are small in quantity but enormous in quality. The most amazing of blessings occurs when a disproportionally small bit of food satisfies the body's desires and needs, and a small measure of water quenches a parched throat. When a person has the merit to receive his food directly from the hand of Hashem he will experience a double blessing. In addition to having his physical needs satisfied he will also attain the utmost level of spiritual gratification. Even the water that we drink can be a spiritual adventure when we receive it directly from Hashem's blessing. On the other hand, when an animal drinks it accomplishes nothing more than replacing its own depleted water resources. The extent of the animal's satisfaction depends directly upon the amount of water that it consumes.
With this in mind let us look at the story of "the waters of dispute" in this week's parsha. In Bamidbar 20:8, Hashem instructs Moshe and Aharon to "draw water from the rock and provide water for the community and their animals". Rav Meir Simcha makes two significant points regarding this verse. The instructions to Moshe and Aharon are to draw water, i.e. an unspecified amount of it. Secondly, the Hebrew word es (spelled alef taf) separates (see Talmud Bava Kama p.65) between the word "community" and the words "their animals" indicating that the drinking of the community should be distinguishable from that of their animals.
The message is twofold. First, when receiving sustenance directly from Hashem, large amounts are not essential. Secondly, the act of drinking the blessed water of Hashem's is totally different from the merely physical act of drinking. The entire community could have experienced the spiritual elevation of consuming water that came directly from Hashem's hands. Compare this to verse 11 of the same chapter where we find Moshe, who was angry at the community, striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it. Take note that in this verse "a great abundance of water comes forth from the rock and the community and the animals drank" the separating word es does not appear. Because Moshe did not accurately fulfill the instructions of Hashem the community could not receive their water on the highest level of blessing. That is why the water came forth in great abundance. Quality was substituted for quantity. Furthermore, the community drank with no distinction from the animals. For merely physical drinking an abundance of water was provided but the water was devoid of spiritual content.
The lesson that we can learn from this is a sharp contrast to the Western materialistic mind set. The great abundance that we witness in the Western world may not be a sign of supreme blessing. In fact the very opposite may be true. Despite the abundance of material blessing that has become part of our everyday life, genuine physical and spiritual satisfaction continue to allude most people, even the most financially blessed. In contradistinction to this, Hashem's ultimate blessing brings one complete physical and spiritual satisfaction. The amount of material that would be necessary to accomplish such a level of holistic fulfillment is far less than what most of us posses. Something to think about….
Sponsorship and dedication opportunities are available.
By Rav Yitzchak Schwartz Rosh Yeshiva Orchos Chaim Jerusalem
yschwartz@orchos.org.
The more the merrier! It is only natural to think that way when dealing with material blessings. That may be true in the realm of mundane material blessings. However, when we receive a blessing from Hashem, the smaller the physical quantity the greater the blessing is. It is no wonder that after partaking of a four course meal that you will be satiated. On the other hand, it would be a great wonder if you ate a spoonful of food and feel even more satisfied than after consuming all four courses. Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk teaches a fascinating and important fundamental. The most elevated blessings, the ones that Hashem confers with grace and illuminated countenance, are small in quantity but enormous in quality. The most amazing of blessings occurs when a disproportionally small bit of food satisfies the body's desires and needs, and a small measure of water quenches a parched throat. When a person has the merit to receive his food directly from the hand of Hashem he will experience a double blessing. In addition to having his physical needs satisfied he will also attain the utmost level of spiritual gratification. Even the water that we drink can be a spiritual adventure when we receive it directly from Hashem's blessing. On the other hand, when an animal drinks it accomplishes nothing more than replacing its own depleted water resources. The extent of the animal's satisfaction depends directly upon the amount of water that it consumes.
With this in mind let us look at the story of "the waters of dispute" in this week's parsha. In Bamidbar 20:8, Hashem instructs Moshe and Aharon to "draw water from the rock and provide water for the community and their animals". Rav Meir Simcha makes two significant points regarding this verse. The instructions to Moshe and Aharon are to draw water, i.e. an unspecified amount of it. Secondly, the Hebrew word es (spelled alef taf) separates (see Talmud Bava Kama p.65) between the word "community" and the words "their animals" indicating that the drinking of the community should be distinguishable from that of their animals.
The message is twofold. First, when receiving sustenance directly from Hashem, large amounts are not essential. Secondly, the act of drinking the blessed water of Hashem's is totally different from the merely physical act of drinking. The entire community could have experienced the spiritual elevation of consuming water that came directly from Hashem's hands. Compare this to verse 11 of the same chapter where we find Moshe, who was angry at the community, striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it. Take note that in this verse "a great abundance of water comes forth from the rock and the community and the animals drank" the separating word es does not appear. Because Moshe did not accurately fulfill the instructions of Hashem the community could not receive their water on the highest level of blessing. That is why the water came forth in great abundance. Quality was substituted for quantity. Furthermore, the community drank with no distinction from the animals. For merely physical drinking an abundance of water was provided but the water was devoid of spiritual content.
The lesson that we can learn from this is a sharp contrast to the Western materialistic mind set. The great abundance that we witness in the Western world may not be a sign of supreme blessing. In fact the very opposite may be true. Despite the abundance of material blessing that has become part of our everyday life, genuine physical and spiritual satisfaction continue to allude most people, even the most financially blessed. In contradistinction to this, Hashem's ultimate blessing brings one complete physical and spiritual satisfaction. The amount of material that would be necessary to accomplish such a level of holistic fulfillment is far less than what most of us posses. Something to think about….
Sponsorship and dedication opportunities are available.