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THE WEEKLY SIDRA- VAYAITZAI
Rabbi Moshe Greebel
As far as science and technology have advanced, there is still no cure for the common cold. There is the story of a certain man, who suffered from a very severe cold. His physician prescribed a certain medication, but, to no avail. The doctor then tried an injection of a powerful antibiotic, but that too, did not help.
On his third visit, the doctor said, “Here is what I want you to do. Take a very hot bath, and immediately, open all your windows, and stand in the draft!”
“But, doctor,” protested the patient, “that will give me pneumonia!”
“I know,” responded the physician, “but, I can cure pneumonia!”
In the weekly Sidra, we read how Ya’akov requested that HaShem be with him, and, keep him safe:
“And Ya’akov vowed a vow, saying, ‘If G-d will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and garment to put on.’” (B’raishis 28:20)
One may very well ask what is the relationship between ‘bread to eat’ and ‘garment to put on’ when it comes to ‘this way that I go’? In the text Likutei B’samim, the opinion of Rav Meir Eisenstadt (1670-1744) of blessed memory, author of the Panim M’iros, is cited, in order to resolve this question.
We begin with the Gemarah in K’subos 30a, which has this to say:
“Everything is by the hand of heaven, except cold and heat, for it is said, “Cold and heat are in the way of the perverse; he that keeps his soul, holds himself far from them.“ (Mishlei 22:5)”
As can be seen, catching cold and suffering from heat stroke or fever are not necessarily decrees from Shamayim (heaven) against someone who sinned. As Rashi instructs on this Gemarah, colds and heat stroke/fevers at times, are the result of simply being careless.
Now then, concerning our above Gemarah from K’subos, the commentary of the Tosfos, poses the following question from the Gemarah in Bava M’tziya 107b:
“And, if you wish to say that we have interpreted (Bava M’tziya 107b) ’And HaShem will take away from you all sickness…..’ (D’varim 7:15) refers to colds, then it holds to reason that they (colds) are (a decree) from Shamayim (and, not up to man)…..?”
The Tosfos answers:
“…..There is the following to say, though. (What the Gemarah in Bava M’tziya 107b actually means by ‘colds’) is that HaShem will warm up His world, or, will supply one with (proper) clothing…..”
This is to say, that while HaShem assists everyone against colds with warm temperature and clothing, catching the common cold, is still a matter of human carelessness. From here, the Likutei B’samim, in the name of Rav Meir Eisenstadt, turns back to the Gemarah in Bava M’tziya 107b, which makes a very strong case for a good nourishing breakfast:
“Our Rabbis taught, ‘Thirteen things were said of the morning bread (breakfast): it is an antidote against heat and cold, winds and demons; instills wisdom into the simple, causes one to triumph in a lawsuit, enables one to study and teach the Torah, to have his words heeded, and retain scholarship; he (who partakes thereof) does not perspire, lives with his wife and does not lust after other women; and it kills the worms in one's intestines.’”
‘It is an antidote against heat and cold,’ instructed Rav Meir, must refer to the bread and clothing, which Ya’akov specifically requested of HaShem, when he stated, “And will keep me in this way that I go.” That is, Ya’akov was very concerned that since colds and heat stroke/fevers are in fact, the result of human carelessness, it might be said G-d forbid by others, that while HaShem protected Ya’akov from all his very dangerous enemies, He did not protect him from simple colds and heat stroke/fevers. This is why Ya’akov specified bread and a garment.
How easy it is to take certain things for granted, and not give them much consideration. The tuna sandwich we eat when hungry, or the wool sweater we wear on a chilly day, are hardly ever given a second thought. Yet, the Gemarah in Shabbos 107b, and Avodah Zara 3b reminds us:
“HaKadosh Baruch Hu sits and sustains (all creatures), from the horns of wild oxen to the eggs of lice!”
Hence, the mercy of HaShem not only supplies us with that which is life sustaining, but, also with the material to keep us safe from our own carelessness. May we persistently reflect upon this surfeit of kindness to us from HaShem, and may we never forget its true source.
May we soon see the G’ulah Sh’laimah in its complete resplendency- speedily, and in our times. Good Shabbos. |
