Eikev
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha the mitzvah of U’Bo Sidbak. The pasuk states (Chapter 10, Pasuk 20), Es Hashem Elokecha Tira Oso Sa’avod U’Vo Sidbak U’Vishmo Tishave’a, You shall fear Gd, serve Him, cling to Him, and swear in His name. The commentators disagree as to how one can possibly cling to Gd. The Gemara in Kesuvos 111B asks, how can one cling to Gd, for Gd is a consuming fire, as the pasuk states (Chapter 4, Pasuk 24), Ki Hashem Elokecha Eish Ochlah Hu. Rather, explains the Gemara, the way one clings to Hashem is by marrying the daughter to a Talmid Chacham or doing business with a Talmid Chacham. By doing this, it is considered as if he is clinging to Hashem.
This Gemara is how the Rambam in the Sefer Hamitzvos understands the obligation in our pasuk. In Mitzvat Aseh no. 6 the Rambam teaches that there is a positive command of U’Bo Sidbak and the way one performs this mitzvah is by having interactions with Talmidei Chachamim. Through the interaction with Torah scholars one will learn from their ways and from their faith and hashkafah.
The Ramban in his critique of the Sefer HaMitzvos disagrees with the Rambam. He learns that this pasuk is giving us a model for the ideal Jew. One must serve Gd, fear Him, and cling to Him, and only then will he be fit to swear in His name. And regarding the question of Chazal of how one clings to Gd, the Ramban explains that the Torah means that one must cling to Hashem with his soul.
The Meshech Chachmah disagrees with the Ramban. He says that according to the Ramban this mitzvah is limited to unique individuals who are able to reach such lofty heights. It would be more plausible to learn that the mitzvah in this pasuk is given to and attainable by all members of Clal Yisrael.
Therefore the Meshech Chachmah learns that this mitzvah of U’Bo Sidbak, and you shall cling to Him, is a mitzvah to all of Clal Yisrael to have faith and trust in Hashem, each according to his particular level. There is a concept of Bitachon that is referred to throughout our sources, as the pasuk states (Tehillim, Chapter 115, Pasuk 9), Yisrael Betach B’Hashem. Our pasuk is the source for this idea, a command from Hashem to have faith in Him.
There are many situations where one has trust in another. A citizen of a country trusts that the king or ruler will provide for him and a child looks to his parents for support and protection. In a similar manner we look to Gd for support and protection. We refer to Hashem as Avinu, Malkeinu. Gd is our father and our king. He provides for us like a king to his subjects and like a father to his child. Our lives must be led with the understanding and awareness that despite our necessary efforts to provide for ourselves, ultimately we look to Hashem for our support. This is the mitzvah of U’Bo Sidbak.
This mitzvah connects us to a point we made last week. In last week’s parsha we discussed the fact that the mitzvah of Shabbos is stated as a remembrance of Yetziat Mitzrayim. The connection between leaving Egypt and keeping Shabbos is not so clear. Shabbos is about belief in Gd as the Creator of the world. What does creation have to do with Yetziat Mitzrayim? Furthermore, why is the mitzvah of Shabbos only given to Bnei Yisrael? All members of the human race should be obligated to acknowledge Gd as the Creator of the world.
The answer is that in order to keep Shabbos one must put his faith totally in Hashem. For a person to work for six days and then suddenly stop, regardless of all business considerations, one must have a tremendous level of trust in Gd. And this level of Bitachon is required specifically from Bnei Yisrael, as we have explained the pasuk of U’Bo Sidbak. And the reason why we specifically have this mitzvah is because we experienced Yetziat Mitzrayim. The moment we entered the desert after leaving Egypt, unaware of how we would eat and drink and manage to survive, Bnei Yisrael merited in the mitzvah of Shabbos. As the Navi Yirmiyahu said (Chapter 2, Pasuk 2), Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne’urayich, Ahavas Kelulosayich, Lechteich Acharai BaMidbar, I remember the kindness of your youth, following me in the desert. Therefore the other nations, who never experienced such a level of Divine Providence or Hashgachah Pratis, were not commanded to keep Shabbos.
This explains why concomitant to receiving the mahn in the desert Bnei Yisrael also received the mitzvah of Shabbos. Even before Matan Torah, when Bnei Yisrael indicated an understanding that their sustenance comes from Gd as represented by eating mahn, they already merited in the mitzvah of Shabbos. One can’t keep Shabbos without the awareness that our parnassah is from Hashem.
This mitzvah in our parsha of Bitachon is particularly poignant during our turbulent times. Throughout history it has been our faith in Gd and in keeping Shabbos that has sustained us. We have all heard the stories of our dedicated ancestors who left Europe and sacrificed financially in the new world in order to keep Shabbos. This dedication and faith has sustained us until this day. Whether financially or physically, we always look to Hashem for our support and protection. This needs to be our response today as well; acknowledging Gd as Avinu Malkeinu in order for our prayers for protection and salvation to be answered.
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