Parshat Ki Savo 5780
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha the Tochacha, the terrible events which would result from not keeping the mitzvos. One of the things described is (Chapter 28, Pasuk 29), V’Hayisa Memashesh Ba’Tzaharayim Ka’asher Yemashesh Ha’Iveir Ba’Afeilah. You shall fumble midday like a blind person making his way through the darkness. The Torah describes a situation where though the sun is bright outside, one is groping through life trying to find his way.
The Sfas Emes explains this pasuk in the following manner. The pasuk in Mishlei states (Chapter 6, Pasuk 23), Ki Ner Mitzvah V’Torah Ohr. And every person has two parts to him; his physical guf and his neshamah. The neshamah within us Tehorah He; our holy neshamah contains the light of the Torah. But our physical body covers up the holiness of the neshamah. The light of the Torah is covered over by the physical desires contained within each and every one of us.
The way to allow the Torah Ohr within us to illuminate is through Ner Mitzvah. By doing mitzvos and performing the Divine acts we allow the light of the Torah to seep through and bring the light of our neshamos outward. The darkness of our bodies is lit up through the mitzvos we perform. And not only do we light ourselves up, but we light up the world around us. We become a light unto the nations when we fulfill the commands we are meant to. The mitzvos themselves serve a beacon for our surroundings.
In a similar vein, there is an Ibn Ezra which explains the connection between the end of parshat Naso with the beginning of Beha’aloscha which discusses the lighting of the Menorah. He explains that the end of Naso deals with Hashem speaking to Moshe Rabbeinu, which only took place at night. But when Aharon HaKohen lit the Menorah, the Dibur came to Moshe. This is because by lighting the Menorah, Aharon lit up the entire area; he turned the night into day. Similarly, when we do mitzvos we light up the world.
The Navi Yeshayahu describes this great power of Bnei Yisrael (Chapter 59, Pasuk 10), V’Zarach Ba’Choshech Orecha, Va’Afalascha Ba’Tzaharayim. Your light will light up the darkness and you will make the darkness as bright as midday. And later in the next chapter we read (Chapter 60, Pasuk 3), V’Halchu Goyim L’Oreich, and the nations shall follow in your light.
This is the description of Bnei Yisrael in their pinnacle, during redemption. But our pasuk describes a situation of galus. Even when keeping Torah and mitzvos, our distance from Hashem causes to fumble in the dark. Though we call out, the darkness of the natural world overwhelms us and we can’t see our way through. The normal process of lighting up the world with Torah isn’t effective. We are like blind people in the dark.
But Hashem still provides for the blind person groping his way through the dark. And this is why we call out for light. The pasuk in sefer Tehillim says (Chapter 119, Pasuk 8), Gal Einai V’Abita Nifla’os M’Sorasecha; light up my eyes and allow me to see wonders from your Torah. When we are close to Hashem, we see the light directly through our involvement in Torah. We light up the night with mitzvos. But in galus we need Siyata Dishmaya; we need help to see the light and overcome the darkness of Teva. We ask Hashem to direct us and guide us so that we can get back to Him and light up the world and truly become a light unto the nations.
Good Shabbos
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