Tzvi Moshe Kantor - To Know And Overcome

In this week’s Parsha we see Am Yisrael’s interaction with Bilam – prophet of the nations. Bilam is sent repeatedly to curse the Jews but each time Hashem directs his mouth only to bless them.
There is an interesting Gemara in Brachos (12:b) that says that Chazal wanted to take the whole segment of Bilam and make it part of Kriyas Shema. Due to the fact that it was simply too long to say this idea was not accepted. Chazal suggested maybe one Passuk from the entire segment would be sufficient to add to Kriyas Shema. What was this Passuk? “Hen C’Lavi Yakum V’Ch’Ari Yisnasha” Like a lion-cub shall the Jews get up; they shall arise like a lion.

Even though a Halachic technicality prevented the insertion of this verse into Kriyas Shema, a very important conceptual question needs to be addressed: What did Chazal see in this Passuk that it should fit in with the general theme of Shema? The only reason that such a conversation about this verse could start is that its message is deeply rooted in the overlaying theme of the rest of Shema. Thus our question now turns into three: What is the theme of our Passuk? What is the theme of Shema? And do the answer to the first two questions share a common denominator?

The following is an adaptation of Reb Tzadok HaCohen’s understanding.
Shema is all about Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim -accepting the yolk of Heaven. In layman’s terms when we say Shema our intent is to accept God as God, and give ourselves over to Him (by doing His Mitzvos – the vehicle of our relationship).Hashem Echad - God is One. V’Ahavta - You gotta love Him with all you got. V’HayaDo the Mitzvos. VaYomer. Don’t forget that God runs the show.

Kriyas Shema is about clarifying that God is in charge and our lives revolve around that concept – this is Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim.

Our Passuk “Hen C’Lavi Yakum V’Ch’Ari Yisnasha” is talking about Teshuva - repentance; returning to Hashem. ‘They shall rise like a lion.’ When a Jew; Heaven-forbid, transgresses the will of Hashem it’s really like taking a fall. But the Jewish Soul is uniquely empowered to overcome.

Why is the parallel of getting up to that of a lion? We can explain in the following way. The Mishna in Pirkei Avos (5:20) tells us that in Avodas Hashem we need to Misgaber C’Ari, become strong like a lion. What does it mean to become strong? “Eizeh Hu Gibor? HaKovesh Es Yitzro!” (4:1) Who is strong? He who conquers his Yetzer HaRa! The overcoming of that which prevents us from growing is the greatest strength in the world, and this is the strength of a lion.
So the Passuk of “Hen C’Lavi Yakum V’Ch’Ari Yisnasha” is where Bilam gives the Jews the biggest compliment of all. When a Jew falls, he always has the ability to embolden himself once again, get up like a lion to overcome that which holds him back from closeness with his Creator.

Now we can begin to understand how the two concepts are related.
A sin, or distance from Hashem of any kind (We should never know of such things. Amen!) is called ‘Prikas Ol’ A removal of the yolk. Doing Teshuva is the way that we rectify these mistakes. It thus would logically follow that the very opposite of Prikas Ol, (i.e.: what we accomplish through Teshuva) is Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim! Accepting that sovereignty back upon ourselves!

Reb Tzadok HaCohen explains that the knowledge that there is always an option for Teshuva is intrinsic to the essence of Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim - the very message that Kriyas Shema is trying to relay.

For us the lesson should be very clear. Built in to the way we relate to Hashem is the fact that we can fix it. I need to know that no matter where I find myself, no matter what the situation is, no matter how far I feel, I can always, always get back up. As clearly as a need to know that God exists, I need to know that He is waiting eagerly for me to develop a relationship with Him. I mess up, that’s true, but I’m human after all. As we see from Bilam, it’s my ability to overcome that sets me apart from the rest of the world. Let them get caught up it their whatever. A Jew is much, much bigger that that. A Jew can always break free. A Jew can always become close to HaKadosh Baruch Hu.


B’Ezras Hashem we should all be Zocheh to really internalize this. To know, clear as day, that we have the power to overcome all obstacles. This is the single most empowering thing that a Jew can know. If we can really understand this, and more importantly live by this, there is no doubt that we will live lives of happiness andfulfillment moving closer to the Creator and ultimately the Redemption!