Ki Seitzei
Rabbi Jablinowitz
BS"D
Parshat Ki Seitzei
We read in this week's parsha the laws of a worker harvesting in a vineyard. The pasuk says (Chapter 23, Pasuk 25), Ki Savo B'Kerem Reiyecha V'Achalta Anavim K'Nafshacha Savecha. When a worker enters into his friend's vineyard in order to work in harvesting the grapes, he is allowed to eat to his satiation. However the pasuk concludes with the words V'El Kelyecha Lo Sitein, you may not put grapes into your vessel. The harvester is allowed to put grapes into this mouth as he is working, but he is prohibited from collecting the owner's grapes and putting them into his own private basket.
The Sfas Emes learns from this a deeper meaning and a lesson for one's Avodas Hashem. Working in a vineyard and harvesting the grapes is a metaphor for serving Hashem. After all, we all are considered workers, Poalim, of Hashem. And when we serve Hashem and do mitzvos, we may eat from the grapes to the point of V'Achalta Anavim K'Nafshacha Savecha. One's soul becomes satiated from the grapes. The more involved in mitzvos we are, the more we understand the meaning and the depths of the mitzvos. Chazal often times refer to grapes and wine as the deeper meaning of Torah. The Zohar Hakadosh refers to wine as Torah Shebe'alpeh, and the Gemara in Pesachim 119A teaches that Torah Shebe'alpeh is the meaning and reasoning behind Torah Shebichsav. When we perform mitzvos, we may eat from the grapes. One of the results of being involved in mitzvos is to develop a deeper understanding of the mitzvos.
However, the pasuk concludes V'El Kelyecha Lo Sitein, you may not store the grapes in your basket. The point of understanding the meaning behind the mitzvos is only to serve Hashem better. You can only eat while you are performing the mitzvos. But to store the grapes and eat them later is prohibited. The only point in having a greater understanding of the mitzvos is to help one serve Hashem better; collect while you eat. But to store the grapes and use them in a context outside the fulfillment of mitzvos is prohibited. An intellectual growth without a growth in serving Hashem is pointless. As Chazal teach in Avos (3, 12), Kol Shechachmaso Merubah Me'Ma'asav, Eiyn Chachmaso Miskayemes. If one's knowledge is greater than his performance of mitzvos, then his wisdom is not maintained and will be lost.
However, there is an additional gain in the performance of mitzvos. We also learn in this week's parsha the prohibition against muzzling an animal while it is working. The Torah says (Chapter 25, Pasuk 4), Lo Sachsom Shor B'Disho. Even though the animal is doing its work in the field for man's food, the animal is entitled to its food at the same time. Similarly, when we are involved in our work of Avodas Hashem, we are allowed to be fed our food as well. When we are involved in Torah and mitzvos we receive intellectual stimulation and a greater understanding of Torah. However, we are not muzzled and left bereft from the physical. The pasuk of Lo Sachsom Shor B'Disho teaches that we also receive physical stimulation by being involved in the world of Torah and mitzvos.
Good Shabbos
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