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THE WEEKLY SIDRA- AIKEV
Rabbi Moshe Greebel
Words are insufficient to express the unconditional need for humility in every aspect of life, and enough can never be said concerning that attribute. And so, this mailing once again presents us with a unique perspective of that most beautiful of all human qualities, and the prohibition of haughtiness, as can be seen from this week’s Sidra:
“Then your heart be lifted up, and you forget HaShem your G-d, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.” (D’varim 8:14)
The Gemarah in Sotah 4b, has this to say in reference to the above Passuk (verse):
“Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, ‘Every man in whom is haughtiness of spirit, it is as though he worships idols. It is written here (Mishlei 16:5), “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to HaShem.” And it is written elsewhere (D’varim 7:26), “You shall not bring an abomination (idols) into your house…..”’”
Not only is haughtiness of spirit akin to serving idolatry, it is also the denial of HaShem, G-d forbid, as we see from the continuation of the Gemarah:
“…..Rabbi Yochanan himself said, ‘He is as though he had denied the fundamental principle (of HaShem), as it is said “Then your heart be lifted up, and you forget HaShem your G-d”’”
Our Rabbanim of blessed memory, in the Gemarah of Sanhedrin 101b, provided us with a glimpse of one of the haughtiest men who ever lived, and how through this most terrible of attributes, he was driven out of the world of any sanity whatsoever:
“Rav Nachman said, ‘The haughtiness which possessed Yaravam, drove him out of the world….!”’
In the time of Yaravam Ben N’vat, all Yisroel was still under the authority of Malchus Y’huda (kingdom of Y’huda), stemming from Dovid HaMelech, with its capital in Y’rushalayim. After the death of Shlomo HaMelech, his son R’chava’am became king, and all the B’nai Yisroel with Yaravam Ben N’vat, met with the new king, and addressed the following petition:
“Your father made our yoke grievous; now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve you.” (M’lachim I 12:4)
Basically, since Shlomo had to build the Bais HaMikdash and other structures of Y’rushalayim, he taxed his nation heavily. However, now that all the building was completed, the B’nai Yisroel petitioned for reduced taxes. After three days of deliberation with his younger counselors, R’chava’am announced:
“And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions!’” (ibid. 12:14)
Utterly dismayed by this very severe response of R’chava’am, all the tribes, except Y’huda, left the authority of Malchus Y’huda, and accepted the authority of a newly formed Malchus Yisroel, with Yaravam as their king:
“And it came to pass, when all Yisroel heard that Yaravam had returned, that they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Yisroel; there was none who followed the house of Dovid, but the tribe of Y’huda only.” (ibid. 12:20)
Now, being the very first king of Malchus Yisroel, Yaravam was very sensitive of his honor, and was unsure of how to comport himself during the Shalosh R’galim (three pilgrimages of Pesach, Sh’vuos, and Sukkos), when all B’nai Yisroel were obligated from the Torah to be in Y’rushalayim. Continuing with the Gemarah in Sanhedrin 101b, we find:
“…..It is as written (M’lachim I 12:26-27) ‘Now Yaravam said in his heart, “Now shall the kingdom return to the house of Dovid.’ (That is), if this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of HaShem at Y’rushalayim, then shall the heart of this people turn unto HaShem, even unto R’chava’am king of Y’huda, and they shall kill me, and go again to R’chava’am king of Y’huda…..”
How did Yaravam envision this problem? The Gemarah continues:
“…..He reasoned thus: it is a tradition that none but the kings of the house of Y’huda may sit in the Azarah (court of the Bais HaMIkdash). Now, when they (the people) see R’chava’am sitting and me standing, they will say, ‘The former is the king and the latter his subject!’ While if I sit too, I am guilty of treason, and they will slay me, and follow him (R’chava’am)…..”
Therefore, concluded Yaravam, it was impossible for him to go to Y’rushalayim, either because of his haughtiness, or because of the danger in defying the house of Y’huda. But, how would he prevent his subjects, the population of Malchus Yisroel, from going to Y’rushalayim at the Shalosh R’galim? The Gemarah continues with as answer to this:
“…..Straightway, the king (Yaravam) took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them (his subjects), ‘It is too much for you to go up to Y’rushalayim: behold your deities Yisroel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt! (M’lachim I 12:28)’”
And so, Yaravam established his own pagan ‘Holiday,’ where the inhabitants of Malchus Yisroel would make their ‘pilgrimage,’ instead of going to Y’rushalayim, which became punishable by being pierced through with the sword. Yaravam therefore, was driven out of the world of sanity, and into a delusional world of self enhancement, all because his haughtiness did not allow for him to stand in the presence of the kings of Y’huda.
Another very vivid example of the extreme haughtiness of Yaravam, can be seen from him acting disrespectfully before Shlomo HaMalech, in the Gemarah of Sanhedrin 101b:
“’And this was the cause why he (Yaravam) lifted up his hand against the king; Shlomo built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of Dovid his father.” (M’lachim I 11:27’)….. What is meant by ‘And this was the cause why he lifted up his hand against the king?’ Rav Nachman said, ‘He took off his T’fillin (phylacteries) in front of him.’”
Our final example of the unbelievable and unimaginable haughtiness of Yaravam is offered in the Gemarah of Sanhedrin 102a:
“Rav Abba said, ‘After HaKadosh Baruch Hu had seized Yaravam by his garment and urged him, “Repent, then I, you, and the son of Yishai (i.e. Moshiach Ben Dovid) will walk in the Garden of Eden!” ‘And who shall be at the head?’ inquired he. ‘The son of Yishai shall be at the head,’ (answered HaKadosh Baruch Hu). ‘If so,’ (he replied) ‘I do not desire (it).’”
The smallest lack of humility opens wide the entry into haughtiness, an attribute so detestable that it literally drives one out of this world. Once self importance takes over G-d forbid, all logic and reason become lost in a sea of emotional turmoil, one bad decision following the other. It is only through true humility then, that we keep at bay the very worst of ourselves, and most importantly, comporting ourselves always with respect and dignity to others.
May we soon see the G’ulah Sh’laimah in its complete resplendency- and in our times. Good Shabbos.
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