Casualness Is Not a Way of Life for the Jewish People Introduction

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Bechukosai 5776 Casualness is not a way of Savo, seem to be ignored by the general population? Life for the Jewish People What does it mean to be casual in Introduction mitzvah observance? if The Torah describes the errant behavior ,ואם בזאת לא תשמעו לי והלכתם עמי בקרי despite this you will not heed Me, and that results in cataclysmic consequences you behave toward Me with casualness for the Jewish People as keri, casualness. (Vayikra 26:27) What is the meaning of this casualness? The conventional explanation for One of the most quoted forewarnings casualness regarding mitzvah that the Jewish People have received in observance is that one performs the recent history was the prophetic words mitzvos with a lack of fervor and of Rabbi Meir Simcha from Devinsk, enthusiasm. However, this explanation commonly referred to as the Meshech appears difficult, as one would think that Chochma (1843-1926). In the parshaha the Jewish People should not have to of Bechukosai Reb Meir Simcha writes suffer so terribly if they perform the that if the Jew thinks that Berlin is mitzvos, albeit lackadaisically. Perhaps Jerusalem then a raging storm wind will there is a deeper meaning to the uproot him by his trunk, a tempest will casualness that the Torah is referring to. arise and spread its roaring waves, and swallow, and destroy, and flood forth Amalek caused the Jewish People to without pity. Sadly enough, this become casual premonition was realized when we lost, Regarding the incident where Amalek HaShem should save us, six million attacked the Jewish People upon Jews in what is referred to as the liberation from Egypt, it is said Holocaust. What is unique about this (Devarim 25:17-18) zachor eis asher warning is that the Torah itself warns us asah lecho Amalek baderech bitzeischem of devastating consequences if we miMitzrayim asher korcha baderech abandon our service of HaShem and if vayizaneiv bicho kol hanecheshalim we treated HaShem’s mitzvos with acharecho viatah ayeif viyageia viol carelessness. Why is it, then, that it is yarei Elokim, remember what Amalek only the words of Reb Meir Simcha that did to you, on the way, when you were are so well known whereas the leaving Egypt. That he happened upon Tochacha, the rebuke that we read in you on the way, and he struck those of Parashas Bechukosai and in Parashas Ki you who were hindmost, all the 1 weaklings at your rear, when you were When the Jewish People are in exile and faint and exhausted, and he did not fear become acclimated to the gentile society, G-d. The simple reading here is that the they become victims to the ambush of Jewish People were fatigued upon Amalek and subsequently they develop a leaving Egypt and Amalek ambushed casual attitude towards HaShem and His them. Furthermore, the Torah states that Torah. To declare that Berlin is Amalek did not fear G-d, implying that Jerusalem is just an outward expression the Jewish People were not at fault for of this casualness. this ill-fated encounter. The Sfas Emes, however, understands the words what Today more than ever we need to Amalek did to you to mean that Amalek intensify our Torah study and mitzvah caused that the Jewish People became observance casual and disconnected from HaShem. Casualness in mitzvah observance is While our main focus is usually on the very subtle, as one can study Torah, evil that Amalek perpetrated, we must pray, and perform mitzvos even in a also remember how we reacted to their casual manner and believe that he is overtures. The Evil Inclination and the fulfilling his requirements. The Torah nations of the world appear to have a instructs us that this is not so. In the great hold over us, but in truth, we are beginning of Parashas Bechukosai the the ones who are ultimately responsible Torah states that we receive the for our behaviors. blessings of HaShem when we toil in Torah study. The study of Torah and all The ambush of Amalek was deliberate mitzvah performance was never meant to cause us to become casual to be approached in a casual manner. It is noteworthy that the Torah uses the Only by being diligent and deliberate in word keri, casualness, in describing the our service of HaShem can we hope to deviant behavior of the Jewish People. defeat the diabolical schemes of Amalek Similarly, regarding the ambush of and his cohorts. The words of the Amalek, the Torah uses the word korcha, Meshech Chochma ring true even today, happened upon you, which also denotes and even more so, as society continues casualness. This seems to be to unsheathe its weapons of destruction paradoxical, as one does not normally through media and technology. The perceive an ambush as casual. Rather, influences appear to be subtle, but their one who ambushes his enemy usually effects are devastating. Intense Torah does so in a deliberate manner. The study and prayer is what can help us Torah, however, is demonstrating to us resist the blandishments of Amalek and that the ultimate goal of Amalek was to contemporary society. cause us to become casual. With this premise we can better understand the premonition of the Meshech Chochma. 2 The Shabbos connection states that Esther instituted that each one of her maidservants bear a name Shabbos is the day when we are free corresponding to the days of the week, from the overtures of the Evil Inclination so in this manner she could know when and the nations of the world. The the holy Shabbos arrives. Thus, we can to be read as הַמָּ נֶה Gemara (Shabbos 118b) states that had interpret the word the count, i.e. We should be ,המונה the Jewish People observed the first Shabbos in the Wilderness, no race or counting with haste the days towards nation would have been able to dominate Shabbos. Although we are blessed with a them. Subsequent to their violation of fixed calendar, we must still be the first Shabbos, Amalek attacked the cognizant the entire week of the Jewish People. The Torah and the upcoming Shabbos, so that we can Gemara could not be clearer with the properly prepare for this special day. message of what we need to do to ward off the blandishments of Amalek. Shabbos Stories HaShem should allow us to observe the Shabbos faithfully, and then we will Have true bitachon achieve dominance over the nations of the world, with the speedy arrival of A wealthy businessman once sunk most Moshiach Tzidkeinu. of his considerable assets into a lumber venture. The lumber was to be transported by floating it down the Shabbos in the Zemiros Dnieper River, an economical but somewhat risky process. Shimru Shabsosai The man came to the Netziv, Rabbi The composer of this zemer is Shlomo, a Naftali Tzvi Berlin zt"l for a beracha name formed by the acrostic of the first (blessing) that all should go well. The four stanzas. Nothing definite is known Netziv told him to have bitachon (faith) about him, although some speculate that in Hashem, Who will certainly help him. he was the famous Shlomo ben Yehudah ibn Gabriol. The zemer concentrates on "Of course I know that I should have the requirement to honor the Shabbos bitachon," the man said. "But what can I with culinary delights and closes with do - I am still extremely nervous!" the assurance that the observance of the Shabbos will herald the final "You know," said the Netziv, "now I Redemption. understand a passage in the Torah that has always bothered me. The Torah says the Jews will ask, 'How can we keep ,מַ הֲרּו אֶ ת הַמָּ נֶה, לַעֲׂשֹות אֶ ת דְּ בַר אֶסְּתֵּ ר expedite the portion – fulfill Esther’s Shemitah? What will we eat on the order. What is the reference to “Esther’s seventh year?' One wonders: Why were order?” The Gemara (Megillah 13a) they so concerned over the seventh year? 3 Didn't they prepare for it in the sixth with his bike. He saw himself going year? They should have been concerned down the tremendous embankment and over the eighth year! visualized that the end was at hand. All of a sudden, he saw a branch hanging "Let us consider, however, to whom the out of the mountain. He reached out and Torah is speaking - instructing them not hung on, and was saved, walking away to worry and to have bitachon. Certainly without a scratch. "That's how I know," it is not to the poor, firstly because they he said, "that G-d and I are like 'this'!" are already used to relying on bitachon, Rav Noach then asked him, "Did you and secondly because they own no land. ever think about why the truck knocked Rather, the Torah must be speaking to you off the cliff? Maybe that is what G-d the wealthy landowners, who are used to is trying to tell you." (www.Torah.org) 'earning their own living,' and are not connected with bitachon on a regular A volcanic ash blessing basis. They can't believe they can survive without their active A universal crisis, millions of people participation, without "doing it stranded and billions of dollars lost, as themselves!" This is why they are one volcanic eruption in Iceland causes already nervous, even for the seventh chaos across the European continent. year. Within all this tumult, one Jew merits a smile of grace from the Creator of the "Don't worry," concluded the Netziv. World, and a miraculous series of events "Have true bitachon, and all will be begins to unfold.

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