Parshat Balak 5777
Rabbi Jablinowitz
The Gemara in Brachos 12B teaches that the Rabbis wanted to include the parsha of Balak as part of Keriyas Shema but didn't because it's too long and would be too cumbersome to recite. The Gemara asks, what is the connection between this parsha and Keriyas Shema? The Gemara answers by bringing the pasuk (Chapter 24, Pasuk 9), Kara Shachav K'Ari, U'Kelavie Me Yekimenu. He lies down like a lion and as a lioness, who can stir him up. Rashi on the Gemara explains that this pasuk is similar to Keriyas Shema where it says Beshachbecha U'Vekumecha; Hashem protects us when we lie down and when we wake up.
What is the connection between lying down and stirring up like a lion and the pasuk Beshachbecha U'Vekumecha? How does our pasuk connect with Keriyas Shema and Kabbalas Ohl Malchus Shamayim, accepting the yolk of heaven?
The Sfas Emes answers in the name of the Chidushei HaRim that the reason this pasuk would have been appropriate is because it praises Bnei Yisrael that first thing in the morning they rush to do mitzvos and say Keriyas Shema. This is what the pasuk is referring to when it says rising up like a lion. This is because the essence of Bnei Yisrael is a desire to serve Hashem. This is something we learned from Avraham Avinu who established the principle of Zerizim Makdimim L'Mitzvos, those who are eager do mitzvos early. Doing mitzvos early is referring to first thing in the morning. It is essential that as soon as we arise in the morning we rush off to do mitzvos, like davening and saying Keriyas Shema.
This is expressed in the first Halacha in Shulchan Aruch where it says Yisgaber K'Ari La'amod Baboker L'Avodas Bor'o. One should get up mightily like a lion in the morning to do the service of his Creator. The Ohr Gedalyahu adds that starting immediately in the morning and serving Hashem sets a tone for the entire day. When we begin our day focused on doing mitzvos it sets our day in motion as being essentially devoted to Avodas Hashem.
The Maharsha on the Gemara above brings in the name of the Medrash Tanchuma that the correct text of the Gemara quotes a different pasuk from our parsha. The pasuk says earlier (Chapter 23, Pasuk 24), Hen Am K'Lavie Yakum V'Cha'Ari Yisnasa. The nation gets up like a lioness and is raised like a lion. Rashi even comments on this pasuk that it is a reference to getting up early and doing mitzvos such as Tzitzis, Keriyas Shema, and Tefillin, which fits better with the p'shat of the Sfas Emes.
The Ba'al HaTurim points out that the two pasukim have a different order. The first pasuk mentions getting up like a lioness first and then like a lion, while the latter pasuk quoted in our Gemara mentions the Ari first and then the Lavie. He explains the first pasuk as being the natural order. In the morning a person first awakens slowly like a lioness and then more intensely like a lion; Hen Am K'Lavie Yakum V'Cha'Ari Yisnasa.
Rav Tzadok answers the second pasuk, Kara Shachav K'Ari, U'Kelavie Me Yekimenu, to be referring to a different context. It is referring to one who falls and sins. The person who falls hard like a lion will very often despair. He can't get up any longer. The pasuk tells him, if he has fallen hard like a lion, at least try to get up like a lioness. One must never give up and say he can't do Teshuvah.
And this is why this pasuk in parshat Balak was meant to be included in Keriyas Shema. Keriyas Shema expresses the acceptance of Ohl Malchus Shamayim, accepting the yolk of heaven upon ourselves. A fundamental principle in Ohl Malchus Shamayim is not despairing and understanding that even after we fall we need to get up again. We can always restart and accept upon ourselves the yolk of heaven again. And this point is indicated precisely from the pasuk Kara Shachav K'Ari, U'Kelavie Me Yekimenu.
Good Shabbos
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