Daf Yomi: Zevachim 5
Guest Author:
Rabbi Jay Yaakov Schwartz
Young Israel of
Oceanside, NY
THE PRICE OF A
BLESSING
The story is told of a certain Hasid who requested a bracha from the holy
Magid, Rabbi Abraham of Trisk. The holy Magid customarily received a small
sum of money prior to bestowing his blessings. The Magid said "give your
donation and then I will bless you". The Hasid responded, "Rebbe if I have
nothing to offer you am I not still worthy of a blessing?" The Magid
answered wryly, using the first words of the priestly blessing contained
in this week�s Torah reading. "YIVARECHACHA HASHEM (G-d will bless you)".
The Hasid questioned "why is it that he who offers a donation, the Rebbe
gives them a bracha but to me only HaShem gives the bracha?" The Magid
responded "thus is written in the Torah "KO SEVACHUO ES BNEI YISROEL". If
it is KO meaning "like this", without the payment, then follows the rest
of the verse EMOR LAHEM YIVARECHACHA HASHEM ( Say to them 'HaShem will
bless you.')
A similar episode is recorded in the writings of other Hasidic greats such
as the Magid of Tchernobel and others.
The story is difficult to comprehend. I don't believe that the Magid's
motivation was purely financial, if so, it would be unflattering that this
conversation be recorded for posterity. It may be understood as a bit of
sardonic humor but its message likely runs deeper than that. It would seem
that the Magid's lesson is that a bracha requires one�s investment of
time, energy and effort and resources that are precious and dear to the
supplicant, in order that the blessing requested have permanence and
power.
In a similar vein the story is told of two disciples of a certain Rebbe
who longed for children and came for a bracha. The two arrived
simultaneously.
The more devoted of the disciples, who came regularly and often to the
Rebbe was received first. The other individual who came but rarely to
visit the Rebbe was received later but it was he that later that year was
blessed with a child. The more devoted Hasid complained bitterly why was
it that the other fellow had seen the benefits from the Rebbe's blessing
and he had not. The Rebbe explained the difference was a simple one
saying, "my son, you both came requesting a child from the heavens and
that I pray on your behalf. However, your friend and his wife prepared a
nursery in their home in expectation of a child. But you did not".
These stories underscore the lesson that powerful prayers are only part of
HaShem's equation of blessing. The other part is the demonstration of
actions of investment and faith that prepare us and enable the bracha to
be fulfilled.
This insight is the key to understanding the Birkat Kohanim. Rabbi Isaac
Arama, the Akedat Yitzchak, explained the verse which summarizes the
priestly blessing VASAMU ES SHMI AL BENEI YISRAEL (perek 6 pasuk 27).
He wrote, "in order that blessings be bestowed on man from HaShem he must
prepare himself for it. The more he prepares and rectifies himself, so
will he increase the outpouring of blessing that he will merit. It is like
a river that is long but changes in shape from place to place. There are
points along the river line that water flows abundantly and there are
points along the river where the water flow is weak. A person might err in
thinking that the volume of water in a certain place is dependent on how
close or how far that place is from the source, of the river. A more
astute observer will understand that it matters not how far you are from
the source but rather what matters here is the dimensions and the
condition of the area where the water arrives at that particular moment.
So too, blessings from G-d are not dependent on how close one is to Him,
but rather how great a repository for goodness one has prepared themself
to be. As the pasuk says, "HARCHEV PICHA VAMALEHU�. As we open up
ourselves for a bracha we increase the brachas potential for fulfillment.
What is the way to prepare oneself to receive blessing? The pasuk teaches
"HINEA EYN HASHEM EL YIREAV LAMEYACHALIM L'CHASDO". ( Tehillim 33)
HaShem's eye is trained on those who yearn for His kindness. One who
understands and truly believes that HaShem is the source of all good and
then takes actions to demonstrate that belief is best positioned to
receive G-d's munificence. This is the meaning of the verse VESAMU ES SHMI
place My name in your hearts and your minds and with that clarity and the
actions of faith then, V'ANI AVARCHEM, I will bless them�
In similar fashion, the Medrash Rabbah Breshis chapter 43-8 asks: "From
where do the Jewish people merit the blessings of the Kohanim which begins
with the word 'Ko' 'and thus you shall bless the Jewish people�?�
The Medrash answers: �Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Nehemiah, and Rabbis, each
opine differently.
Rabbi Yehuda says from Abraham about whom it says: 'KO YIHYEH ZARECHA',
"And thus shall be your children" (Breshis 15-5).
Rabbi Nehemiah says "From Isaac, about whom it is written, VAANI VHANAAR
NELCHA AD KO' , "I and the lad will go to there". (Breshis 22-5) (to be
bound and sacrificed).
The Rabbis said from Jacob, as it is said 'KO TOMAR LBAIS YAAKOV' "Thus
shall you teach the house of Yaakov" (Shemos 19-3).
The Medrash underscores that each of the Avos had to take dramatic action
to secure the blessing of their progeny.
For Avraham it was the challenge of believing that at 99 years old he
would yet father another son as Rashi explains; "It was an act of tzdakah,
(charity) and faith to believe HaShem's promise. The profound lesson of
Abraham's lifetime of charitable activities", that inherent in every act
of tzdakah, is an act of profound faith.
For Yitzchak it was the willingness to forego not only wealth, but also
his very life and limb for the sanctification of G-d's name. In doing so,
Isaac imbued all his descendants with the strength to not forfeit their
faith in times of persecution, even in the face of danger and loss of
life.
For Yakov it was the action of securing the next generation, the Bait
Yakov defined rabinically as the future mothers of Israel, to nurture
their families with proper Torah education that would inspire them to
raise yet another generation of Torah committed youth.
The Avos demonstrated that bracha does not come easily, that it requires
great personal commitment of wealth, of time, of energy and of the
willingness to work and encourage others to do the same.
I recently returned from a brief trip to the Ukraine to pray at the burial
sites of some of Tzadikim who flourished there over 200 years ago. I
traveled to Uman, the resting place of Rav Nachman and to Breslov to visit
the kever (grave) of his most prominent student, Rav Nosson, the editor of
all Rav Nachman's writings. I was privileged to reach Berditchev and pray
at the Tzion (sepulchre) of Rav Levi Yitzchak, and at Mezibuz, the home of
the illustrious founder of the Hasidic movement, the Bal Shem Tov .
I was honored to travel with a number of individuals who sought out an
opportunity for joyous and fervent prayer, meditation and friendship. It
was a journey that I will never forget and although it was marked with
many technical difficulties and the lack of the normal conveniences
available at home. I learned a valuable lesson on that four-day mission,
on how little one really needs to be truly happy.
I appreciated the kindness and hospitality of so many people in those few
days, especially the kindness of my beloved wife Chani and my Shul that
enabled me to go. I felt truly blessed to have the chance to plead on
behalf of myself, my family and Klal Israel (the Jewish people). The trip
required money, time, effort, surrender of some creature comforts in order
to merit these gifts but what I received, in terms of inspiration, a sense
of connection to the Holy and a hope for a new and improved relationship
with HaShem and with my fellows, was priceless.
The blessing that is
bestowed via the Kohanim in Parshat Naso has three components: SHMIRAH:
Which pertains to safeguarding and sanctifying our physical space and our
bodily needs. CHEN: Which is the sanctity that involves our relations with
our fellows. SHALOM: Which is the sanctity of our relationship with G-d
Himself; whose presence is only fully revealed in the city that is SHALEM,
Jerusalem.
None of these are achieved without effort or preparation. If we are to
understand this lesson, that blessings are earned, we will open the
possibility of receiving the full potential of HaShem's gifts that await
us, if only we are willing to pay the price.
