Wednesday, February 11, 2009

פן יהרסו

We know that Chazal teach us that Hashem went around to all the nations before Kabbolas HaTorah to offer them the Torah. When they asked what's written inside, He told them whatever bad Middah that that nation was the most into. They therefore each refused the Torah.
However, Klal Yisroel answered Na'aseh V'N'ishmah. We are ready to accept the Torah even if it runs contrary to our nature.
The question is, what would have been the Mitzvah which Klal Yisroel would have had a hard time with?
I heard from Reb Pinchas Dovid Bunker of Beitar, that that Mitzvah would have been פן יהרסו.
The Neshama of a Yid naturally yearns for Hashem, and cannot bear not being able to come close to Him. This is why many of us find it so hard not to jump to do Avodos which we are not holdinging by.
This is why many of us feel terrible when we're prevented from carrying out those Avodos, or are unsuccesful in them.
Reb Noson of Breslov teaches that even those Yidden who we think are "Kalteh Yidden" who don't feel anything for Avodas Hashem, are also struggling with פן יהרסו. They think that in order to serve Hashem they need to do who-knows-what. If they would only realize that they can serve Hashem right now in their situation with their present abilities, they would recover their Bren.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Parshas Yisro

Rashi comments on וישמע יתרו, what did Yisro hear? He heard about Kriyas Yam Suf and the war with Amalek.
I once heard from R' Moshe Wolfson the following vort:
When Klal Yisroel left Mitzrayim, Doson and Avirom did not want to leave together with them. When they finally did leave, and they made it to the Yam Suf, the Yam had already gone back. Hashem then made a special Kriyas Yam Suf just for them.
Afterwards, since they had come late, they didn't make it into the Ananey Hakovod. Therefore the Amalekim started up with them, as Chazal say, that Amalek started with those who were out of the Anan. Still, Hashem allowed Klal Yisroel to win over Amalek in order to save them.
Yisro understood from these two events, that even if one comes late, and missed Kriyas Yam Suf, and missed being allowed into the Ananey Hakavod, Hashem will still make a special Kriyas Y"S for them, and a Melchemes Amalek to them.
Yisro understood that even if he had already been everywhere, and tried all the Avodah Zoras, it's never too late, and Hashem will do miracles to make sure that he can join Klal Yisroel