Parshat Behar Bechukosai 5785
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the first of this week’s parshiyot, parshat Behar, about the mitzvah of Shemittah. The Medrash Rabbah on the parsha begins by quoting the pasuk in Mishlei (Chapter 18, Pasuk 21), מות וחיים ביד הלשון; life and death are in the hands of one’s tongue. The tongue is described as a form of double-edged sword. It can be used to bring life, as in learning and teaching Torah, or chas v’shalom for death, by speaking words of slander or character assassination.
Why is this duality more pronounced with the mouth than with one’s hands, for example, where one’s actions one can bring life or death? And does this pasuk have anything to do with Shemittah? The Medrash brings this pasuk to discuss the prohibition of אונאת דברים, hurtful speech, which is brought after Shemittah. Does it also connect to the beginning of our parsha?
The Sfas Emes teaches that the reason Shlomo Hamelech in sefer Mishlei taught us that the tongue controls life or death, is because man is essentially a מדבר, a speaker. This is his main task. And we’ve explained previously from the Sefarim the difference between דיבור and אמירה. The root אמר indicates a soft, subtle form of speech, as illustrated by the pasuk (Bereishis, Chapter 27, Pasuk 41), ויאמר עשו בלבו. While the root דבר indicates a strong mode of speech, as expressed by the pasuk (Bereishis, Chapter 42, Pasuk 30), דבר האיש אדני הארץ אתנו קשות.
But the word דיבור means more than a strong way of speaking. It is a form of speech which is meant to guide and direct a person. The Gemara in Sanhedrin 8A teaches דבר אחד לדור. Rashi teaches that the word Dabar means a leader; there is only one leader each generation. When the Sfas Emes teaches that the role of man in the world is to be a מדבר, it means that one is meant to lead and direct others through his actions. He is meant to lead others in the path of Torah and mitzvos. And the pasuk teaches מות וחיים ביד הלשון. Through words of Torah one is meant to influence others to follow the way of Hashem.
The Medrash Rabbah in the very beginning of sefer Vayikra comments on the pasuk in sefer Tehillim (Chapter 103, Pasuk 20), גברי כח עושי דברו, בשומרי שביעית הכתוב מדבר. The Medrash teaches that this pasuk is describing those who keep Shemittah. The Sfas Emes asks, how could this pasuk be referring to Shemittah? The pasuk describes those people of great strength who are עושי דברו; men of action who are doing the will of Hashem. The mitzvah of Shemittah is all about inaction. We are commanded to not work the land. We must let it lie fallow and sit by passively while everyone partakes from the fruits of our fields which are ownerless. How is this indicative of action?
He answers that this is precisely the point. The pasuk says עושי דברו; דיבור means to guide and direct. When one refrains from working his fields; when he sees his beautiful vineyard lying fallow and accesses his inner strength and does nothing, there is nothing more inspirational than that. He is showing all that the land and all of the world belongs to Hashem and He commands us to keep Shemittah. Such inaction is certain to move others to follow his example and keep the Torah. Such inaction reveals Hashem as the Creator and directs, guides and influences others. This is the ultimate expression of גברי כח עושי דברו.
The same is true of Shabbos. Shemittah is actually referred to as a Shabbos, as the pasuk says (Chapter 25, Pasuk 2), שבת לד'. And the pasuk in sefer Yeshayahu says by Shabbos (Chapter 58, Pasuk 13), אם תשיב משבת רגלך וכו' וקראת לשבת ענג וכו' ממצוא חפצך ודבר דבר. The Gemara in Shabbos 113B teaches on the words ודבר דבר, שלא יהיה דבורך של שבת כדבורך בחול. Chazal teach from here that one’s speech on Shabbos should be different than during the week. As Rashi teaches on the Gemara, topics not related to Shabbos like business, should not be discussed on Shabbos.
But we have shown that the word Dibbur means to lead and guide. The ability to reveal Hashem’s rule over the world is greater on Shabbos than it is during the rest of the week. This is what it means when Chazal say שלא יהיה דבורך של שבת כדבורך בחול. Though Hashem always rules over the world, on Shabbos this rule and our dependence on Him is even greater. And once again, our inaction and cessation from melacha is that which inspires. When we express great inner strength and forget our work and our mundane needs, it is truly inspirational. And just as by Shemittah, we are considered as גברי כח עושי דברו.
Good Shabbos
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