Priceless Torah – The Power of Diminutive Deeds
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Loading ...Parshas Lech Lecho
by Rabbi Shlomo Price
In Bereshis-Genesis 14:13 [see Rashi there], it says that Og came and told Avraham about the capture of Lot, Avraham’s nephew, which consequently led to Lot’s rescue by Avraham.
Rav Zeidel Epstein ,ztl, in his sefer-book, Haoros on Chumash-Bamidbar-p.126, brings Rashi [Bamidbar 21:34] who explains that Moshe was afraid of fighting with Og the King of Bashan because of this “merit” that Og had. Moshe was afraid that this merit was so great that it would outweigh the merits of Moshe and all the Jews.
Rav Epstein, ztl., points out that if we scrutinize Og’s “merit’ we will uncover a startling revelation.
Rashi in Bereshis, [ibid.] brings the Midrash which explains that Og really had ulterior motives. He wasn’t interested in saving Lot’s life. Rather Og was hoping that Avraham would go out to war to save Lot, and ultimately Avraham would be killed at the battle. This would enable Og to take Sarah, Avraham’s wife, to be his wife.
So we see that rather than being a praiseworthy merit of saving Lot’ life, it was a deed with the vilest intentions of murder, immorality and stealing. Why does he deserve any reward, and even if he does, would it be so much that Moshe was afraid of it?
Even more than this, if we examine further we will see that Og seemingly received plenty of reward already. He was saved from the Mabul-Flood on credit because Hashem knew what Og would do later. Og also lived a long life to about five hundred years. So it’s a wonder why Moshe was so afraid of this “merit?”
In truth, what we see here is a confirmation of the Gemoro-Talmud Shabbos 32a. The Gemoro quotes the verse in Iyov-Job 33:23 that says, “If there be for him an angel, one interceding angel among a thousand, to vouch for man’s uprightness; then [G-D] is gracious to him and says: “Redeem him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom for him.” [We say this verse in Kaparos before Yom Kippur].
The Gemoro expounds on this verse that even if 999 angels speak against him and only 1 speaks for him [that is 1/1000 or .001 of all the angels] it is possible that he will be saved.
Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Yosi Haglili says that even if that 1 defending angel himself is not completely for him, but 999 parts of that angel are against him and only 1/1000 part is for him [that is 1/1,000,000 (one millionth) or .000001 of all the testimony of the angels] it is still possible that he will be saved, “I have found a ransom for him.”
It is possible that the whole action is thoroughly evil and the epitome of utter villainy, none the less, if there is a fraction of a fraction of some good in it he will get reward and be saved by it.
We see from here that not only do our good actions carry a lot of weight but even the minutest part of an action can have a lot of power and value. This applies even if the main intention of the action was not for good purposes.
Rabbi Epstein, ztl., concludes, “One who reflects on this will see the wonder of wonders of how much power and value there is to a person’s action. Through such a small fraction of good, one receives such a great reward. How great is Hashem’s favor and mercy on His creations.”
Rabbi Paysach Krohn, in his book, “In the Footsteps of the Maggid”, p. 160 brings a beautiful story about the Rosh Hayeshiva of Rabbi Chaim Berlin, Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner, ztl. (1904-1980), which also shows us the value of even one small gesture of a mitzvah.
A taxi was arranged to take the Rosh Hayeshiva and one of his students to a bris-circumcision. When they saw the taxi driver’s identity plate with his Jewish sounding name on it, they realized that he must be Jewish. Meanwhile, in the front seat, the cab driver realized that one of his passengers was a prominent rabbi. He reached over to his right and put on his cap over his bare head as an act of respect for the Rosh Hayeshiva.
Rav Hutner turned to his student and said in Hebrew, so the driver shouldn’t understand, “Mi yodea kama olom habo yesh lo al tenua zu-Who knows how much merit in the World to Come he will get for this act?”
The talmid didn’t think that this small sign of respect was so significant so he asked Rav Hutner, “Does it merit Olom Habo-the World to Come?” Thereupon Rav Hutner related the following story.
The Chidushei Harim, Rabbi Yitzchak Mayer Alter (1789-1866), one of the previous Rebbes of Gur, had a custom to go to the mikvah-ritual bath every day. His attendant noticed that he always took the longer route to the mikvah rather than the shorter one, but he never asked why. Finally, one day his curiosity overcame him and he asked the Rebbe why he purposely seemed to go the long way to get to the mikvah.
The Chidushei Harim answered, “When we go this way, we pass the station where Jewish porters unload the heavy packages for travelers. These porters are very simple non-religious people. They do not pray, nor do they learn Torah. However, when they see me, they stop what they are doing, straighten up and call to each other, ‘Reb Itcha Myer is coming! The Rebbe, Reb Itcha Myer, is coming!’
As I pass by they nod their heads respectfully and acknowledge my presence. For this (display of kavod HaTorah-honor for the Torah) they will get Olom Habo. I know they have no other way of earning it, so I walk this way every day to give them that opportunity.”
Of course we learn from this the great ahavas Yisroel -love and sensitivity for fellow Jews (even non-observant ones) that the Rebbe had, but we can also see another important point. We must not underestimate the small acts that we do, nor the seemingly simple acts that others do.
I will conclude with an amazing story from the sefer “Tuvicha Yabiu,” Vol I, p.240.
There was a kashrut supervisor in a certain hotel who used to have a special minyan-quorum of ten for Mincha at the hotel. One day he was short one person, so he approached a gardener who was working there. The gardener, who was a simple person, had no idea what Mincha or a minyan were, but after the supervisor explained to him the importance of the mitzvah he agreed to join the minyan. Before they started to pray a different person joined, so the gardener, who wasn’t needed, left.
About ten years later, when the supervisor had already changed his job, this gardener appeared to him in a dream. His face was beaming and he informed the supervisor that he passed away about a month ago and you have no idea how much reward he is getting just for agreeing to join the minyan. He added that in merit of that mitzvah he was granted permission to appear to the supervisor to request from him to approach the gardener’s only son in Yerushalaim. His son wasn’t religious, but maybe the supervisor could persuade him to say Kaddish for his father. The gardener gave the supervisor the exact address and he succeeded in persuading the gardener’s son.
Let us consider, what did that gardener actually do? All he did was to agree to join the minyan, nothing more. Look how much reward he got-the privilege of appearing to the supervisor in a dream.
All these stories should teach us the value of every small deed and step that we take to serve Hashem.
We also have to realize that this great bargain is ONLY as long as we are ALIVE. One moment later and it’s too late. Imagine our terrible regret when we realize, in the World of Truth, that we literally squandered so many opportunities to get tremendous merit for the World to Come.
Let us take this to heart and do our utmost to utilize these wonderful opportunities and we will live a happier life in this world and the next.
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Rabbi Shlomo Price, a renowned lecturer and educator, is also a senior Rebbe at Neve Tzion. To receive his weekly Priceless Torah – please contact him at RabbiShlomo.Price@gmail.com.
