RAV KOOK AND TESHUVA
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AN AUDIO SHIUR ON RAV KOOK AND TESHUVA- I WILL TRY TO MAKE THE LINK EASIER TO ACCESS, BUT UNTIL I DO, HERE IS ANOTHER LINK TO THE SHIUR. SPECIAL THANKS TO SHOSHANA ABENSOUR FOR TAPING THE SHIUR AND POSTING IT
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/607012844/7c67b803010e702245e505ecc99b55ac
FIRST FRUITS!
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IN HONOR OF THE MARRIAGE OF EMMA AND JAMIE–MAY THEY BUILD HAPPILY A BAYIT NEEMAN B’YISRAEL AND HAVE MUCH BRACHA AND HATZLACHA IN EVERYTHING!
BS’D PARSHAT KI TAVO 5768 YERUSHALAYIM
The Parsha of Ki Tavo begins with the promise that after the struggles of battle mentioned in the previous two Parshiyot, we will finally find peace and enter into Eretz Yisrael. The Parsha begins with the word VeHaya which means ‘and it will be’. Chazal teach that VeHaya is Lashon Simcha, a terminology signifying joy. One reason for this is that the rearrangement of the letters spells the Shem Havaya, which of course is the Name of Hashem that signifies mercy. Another reason is that VeHaya refers to the future- which is a place of hope. As long as there is a future, there is a chance for improvement. For the Jewish People, our families and the hope for continued generation to build the next link for the future is one aspect of our VeHaya.
The Torah alludes to this idea in the first Mitzvah of the Parsha – Bikurim. When we enter the Land and settle down, and finally get around to planting and harvesting crops, the first growth of each fruit tree of the seven species is to be tagged, and later put into a basket and taken with great ceremony and pomp to Yerushalayim. There, the fruits are brought to the Bais Hamikdash. The Kohein receives the basket, puts his hands actually under the hands of the Bikurim bearer, and together, they lift the basket up towards heaven. The owner then recites a short history of the Jewish People. He remembers that at the very inception of our family-nation, Lavan tried to destroy us. Then, we went down to Egypt, and they tried to finish what Lavan began. We cried out to Hashem, He saved us, brought us into Eretz Yisrael, and finally allowed us to receive the bounty of His Land. After this declaration, the basket is placed by the Mizbeach and it becomes a gift to the Kohein.
The Bikurim first fruits represent the fruits of our labor; the precious firsts are the dearest. By giving them back to Hashem, by recognizing that they are not our own but are just gifts from Hashem, we realign our mind with reality. It is neither our own Koach nor the power of our hand that brings us our possessions, rather they are each gifts. The Hishtadlus we do in Parnassa is just that- it is Hishtadlus. Chazal say that if we were truly Baalei Emuna, we could do the most minimal of effort and Hashem would send our sustenance. Since we are in a cause and effect mode, He allows and requires us to cover up His actions in supporting us by increasing our own work.
They tell the story of the Rebbe, Reb Zusha. He was a Tzaddik whose very cells were permeated with Emuna. In his later years, he had a Shamash, who would take care of his meals. Every day, when he felt it was time to eat, Reb Zusha would say aloud, “Hashem, Zusha is hungry”. This was the signal for the Shamash to bring in the meal. After some time, the Shamash began to be annoyed. It was not Hashem who was supplying breakfast, it was himself. Of course Hashem is the Master of all, but the Shaliach here is me, thought the Shamash. And one day, he decided to change the routine. When the Rebbe would say his daily kvetch, the Shamash would do nothing. No food would he bring.
So, the next day, when Rebbe Zusha felt the need to eat, he cried out, “Hashem, Zusha is hungry!” The Shamash didn’t move. Then, someone knocked on the door, and Reb Zusha went to answer. There stood a Jew with a platter of food, and said, “Rebbe, this is from the bris of my son, please honor me by eating from our Seudas Mitzva”.
The Shamash was shocked, but Rebbe Zusha wasn’t. For all those years, when he called out his request for food, he really and totally believed it was Hashem serving him, and the Shamash was the messenger. Harbei Shluchim LaMakom. There are many ways Hashem sends His Yeshuos. It is only our minds that are limited, not the ways of Hashem.
Bikurim was a yearly reminder that it is not the earthly farmer who brings the fruit, but the Heavenly Farmer.
The Gemara teaches that all farmers are really great Baalei Emuna, because they see how little control they really have over their fields. With the best irrigation, plant food, pesticides and guards, crops can prosper or fail. A chance frost or heat wave, a torrential storm or swarm of pests can take over, and the farmer is helpless.
So, one of the lessons of Bikurim is the Avoda of letting go of control.
The Sifri teaches that the reward for the Mitzva of Bikurim is the acquiring of Eretz Yisrael. The Nesivos Shalom points out that the first time the Jewish people fulfilled the Mitzvah of Bikurim was fourteen years after they had entered the Land and therefore wonders how is it that the reward was given before the entry pass was performed. Therefore, it is not only the physical land that is given as a result of Bikurim, but the ideology of Bikurim opens a Jew to the ideology of Eretz Yisrael.
One of the main Midot of Eretz Yisrael is humility, Bitul Hayeish. To live in Eretz Yisrael, one must bend the inner head to Hashem and know that He is in charge, not us. This is eminently clear today, when we have no idea where the next Pigua will take place. Even the secular Israeli who remains here learns this lesson clearly. The original name of the land was Canaan, which is from the same root as Hachna’ah, humility. There is no humbler posture a person can be in to pray daily, moment by moment for safety and life. There is no way we could think that we are in control here. Even the greatest efforts of the police force can’t weed out every terrorist. And although this is true all over the world, in the Land of Israel it’s harder to fool ourselves.
We enter our field, after the planting, watering, pruning, worrying, fertilizing and fencing. We see a tree that has sprouted flowers, and afterwards, we keep our eyes peeled for the first fruit. Finally, little fig appears after the flower falls. It grows daily until it is large enough to be taken seriously. We then tie a cord around this fig and declare it Bikurim. And we must then work our heart and mind to the realization that all our efforts were just the outward steps to Hashem bringing forth this fruit. We give it back to Hashem.
The Mitzva and consciousness of Bikurim relates to every success in every field we engage in. Some of us are in the field of education, some in the field of business, and some in the field of computers, there is the field of the home, the field of the mind, and the field of the heart. A field nowadays refers to whatever we find ourselves investing our energy, talent and hope. And the first fruits of our chosen field, the first sale, the first report card, the first birth, the first lost pound, are all sources of delicious pride and joy. At that point, we get to fulfill the current version of Bikurim. We get to sincerely say Todah Raba to Hashem and drill into ourselves that it was Hashem who made us succeed. We get to give over the compliment to Hashem, the Ma’aser and the credit.
The humility of Moshe Rabbeinu was not manifest in his denying his talents or disputing his power. He recognized his total superiority in mind and spiritual activity and did not shirk his rulership. Yet he was totally and constantly aware that it was all a gift. It was all Hashem, and he was just the vessel. It was his job to keep his vessel pure and true, so that what came through him was perfect. He was the most aware and therefore the most humble of men. On a certain level, he personally did not need Eretz Yisrael, since he was the personification of Her basic quality of humility. That is one reason why he was not allowed entry.
Everything exists on the levels of place (Olam), time (Shana) and person (Nefesh). If the man Moshe Rabbeinu had entered the place of Israel, in the time when the Nation entered, then there would have been a perfect union. If later the Churban would need to take place, there would have been a disruption of this perfect union and the Jewish Nation would not have survived.
Eretz Yisrael is also about living above nature, L’Maala Miderech Hateva. Giving up the first fruits of our labor is supernatural, since we are so invested in them. And harder than giving to Hashem and the Kohein the actual figs and grapes is the giving over of our mindset that we are not in control of our life. Although we are supposed to live with total responsibility and accountability, the bottom line is that we are not in control, no matter how things appear. We are in a major Tikun state and Hashem is doing what He needs to fix us. Internalizing this is taking a step towards Eretz Yisrael.
There are three references to going out to war in the previous two Parshiyot. Three is a Chazaka, which means its talking about a long term war. Chazal tell us that the war we fight at all times is about choice. We are to evaluate every person, place, and thing. Every thought and action needs to be instantaneously and automatically weighed on the scale that measures one thing- does this bring me closer to Hashem or farther away? Does this fit in with the Ratzon Hashem as taught to us for the thousands of years of Jewish history? If yes, great, and if no, run quickly away.
But the final result, actually the point and Tachlis of these battles is to enter the Land. Therefore our Parsha tells us that there will come a time when the fighting will lull, and we will get the chance to come home safely. Ki Tavo El HaAretz Asher Hashem Elokecha Notein Lecha Nachala.
The time of Elul is characterized as a time when the King is in the field. This means on one level, that Hashem is readily accessible, and that Tefilla is easier this month. But we now understand that the field also refers to the field of human endeavor, and there, in the midst of our daily mundane life, dwells The King. He waits for us in our field; he infuses every field with Himself, and no place is empty of Him. Our taking every part of the field of life and raising it to serve Hashem is another form of Bikurim. Whatever talent we have, we use to serve Him. It can be the most practical, the most down to earth or the most otherworldly talent. They are all the same in the eyes of Hashem if we use these God given talents Leshaim Shamayim and in a kosher and Torah’dic way.
Almost half of Elul has passed. We still have two more weeks of sweetness before the Days of Awe. Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li. The Medrash (Vayikra Raba 30:3) teaches that Hashem looks at a Baal Teshuva as if they actually created themselves anew. Someone who transforms even a small aspect of themselves has in essence given birth to a new person. They become a partner with Hashem in creation. This creative, transformative power is heightened in Elul. Things can change for the better in Elul.
GOOD SHABBOS, SHABBAT SHALOM AND MAZAL TOV
The Story of Yona
We have a tradition to read the story of Yona at Mincha of Yom Kippur. Who was Yona, and why is his Nevua so important ? Listen here…