From an email...
This dvar Torah is in the merit of my parents who are celebrating their 49th anniversary this coming week. May Hashem bless them with many many many more years of good health together and may they rejoice in the weddings of all of their grandchildren with great happiness and prosperity always!
Also - a huuuuuge mazel tooov to my beloved friends R' and Mrs. Jeremy Wernick who in 49 years from now will also celebrate their 49th anniversary. Until then - limitless bracha and hatzlacha. Until 120 in good health and prosperity!
A huuuuuuuge mazel tov to my beloved friends R' and Mrs. Danny Pincus on their wedding. May Hashem grant them limitless health and happiness for many years to come and may they have children who follow in the footsteps of their illustrious ancestor - the holy Chasam Sofer.
One of the foundations of our lives is gratitude. We are ALL surrounded by so many gifts from Above and our job is to appreciate them.
In this weeks parsha we read of the famous episode of the striking of the rock. The medrash [yalkut chukas 161] relates that Hashem said to Moshe - "How can you hit the rock. The rock was so good to you. It gave you honey as it says ויניקהו דבש מסלע [32/ 13] and now you hit it??! You can no longer lead my children. I already appointed someone else."
[Note: Every punishment has a hidden blessing. Moshe didn't want the job in the first place as he didn't feel himself worthy. Now he finally got his wish...]
Moshe hit the rock in order to benefit the Jewish people, to give water to the hungry people. Yet, there was a slight lack of appreciation when he neglected to speak to the rock and instead struck it. For that slight indiscretion he was punished and lost the opportunity to lead the Jews into Eretz Yisrael. [See Menoras Avraham P. 139]
The Sfas Emes [ליקוטים ד"ה ויאמרו] explains in this spirit another episode in our parsha. Moshe sent angels to the king of Edom asking for permission to let the Jews travel through his land. He was refused. The Jews answered that they promised to walk in a "straight path" and they won't bother anybody. The Medrash says that the Jews were punished and lost the "clouds of glory" and Aharon [in whose merit they had these clouds] died. What did the Jews do wrong?
Explains the Sfas Emes that the Jews were all spread out. They promised the Edomites that they would walk in a narrow line AND FORGO THE CLOUDS of glory if they were allowed to pass through. They failed to appreciate the great gift Hashem had given them. To have His Divine clouds leading us was something irreplacable and sui generis [whatever that means]. But the Jews were willing to let the clouds go. Hashem said that if you don't appreciate my gifts - you lose them. That is why they lost the clouds - and Aharon. [See the Imrei Baruch of my beloved friend and teacher HaRav Baruch Chaim Simon Shlita and if you see him tell him I quoted him...]
Sweetest friends!! How often we hear from people who lost something [a friend, relative, health, money etc.] that they took it for granted when they had it??! Our task in life is to ZOOM IN on all of our brachos and ENJOY and APPRECIATE them. Rejoice!! Hashem - thank for for my kidneys!! For my lungs!! For my cardiovascular system. For the literally BILLIONS of miracles that surround us every moment. Every cell. The sun. Eyes that see. A PIECE OF FLESH CAN SEE!!! Memory. We have MILLIONS of things memorized. How to walk, talk, drive, eat, sleep, where the breakfast cereal section is in the supermarket and where the speed dial button is on our phone. SOOOOO MANY BRACHOS! Hashem gives them to us because he loves us and in order to help us connect with this Divine love with appreciation.
Let us not forget. This Shabbos - appreciate your blessings. Thank Hashem for your parents if you are fortunate enough to have them. For your children if you have them. Tell them what a blessing they are and how much they add to your life. Nechama Leibowitz, the great chumash chachama who authored many insightful books and articles on chumash, said that she would have given it all up for ONE CHILD. Thank Hashem that you are Jewish. What a zchus to be a member of this eternal people!!! Thank Hashem for the gift of shabbos. For cholent, kugel and a comfortable bed. So much to be grateful for!!!
May we all rejoice in our brachos and in that merit receive more and more brachos.
Amen!!!!
Good shabbos beloved friends!
