A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a (hopefully) weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Arvus
As a part of Moshe’s last words of chizuk and reproach to Am Yisrael, we are told that there will be a time when we will r”l stray so far from the Ribbono Shel Olam that Hakadosh Boruch Hu will be doubly hidden from us. Bereft of feeling His presence we suffer terrible tragedy. What are we to do? We are to turn to Torah. The “song” written for us to sing in our most difficult days. Indeed, Chazal teach us, Barasi yetzer harah borasi Torah tavlin. This maxim reminds us that the power of Torah and learning can help us overcome every obstacle.
Interstingly, the Kli Yakar expands on this theme and wonders what was the critical avierah that put us over the edge. Where did we lose it? What caused us to drift so far away? His poignant answer is wake up call to each and every Jew.
Our failure, says the Kli Yakar, is a breakdown in our arvus – in our interdependence, when our sense of national identity becomes misplaced. Tragedy is born when we stop loving other Jews unconditionally and instead, despise them for their short comings. We feel as if another Jew’s faltering is a personal affront rather than a shortcoming to help be corrected. The pain we feel as we see another Yid do an aveira should inspire us to reach out with love and help him reconnect to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. If, however we feel his behavior makes him unworthy of being part of the Am Segula we ourselves become diminished and distanced from Hashem Yisborach. Indeed, when our sense of arvus is dependent on what is good for me rather than what is good for the Ribbono Shel Olam we are in big trouble.
Arvus, explains the Kli Yakar, like almost every middah, is a double edged sword. We can view cheit as loathsome but not the chotei – the sinner. Our successful application of this mantra and every Torah standard is always dependent on our outlook. Tov ayin hu yivorach – the one with the positive attitude is the recipient of blessing. We can be selfish or selfless. It simply depends on whether we are positive or negative in our perspective. As such, we are guided, when you feel Hashem is far away sing the song of Torah which Hashem Yisborach gifted us unconditionally. Realize that by looking at the goodness in others you will find the goodness in your self and be the recipient of goodness from Hakadosh Barush Hu Himself. There is no better formula to help us be zoche to a ksiva vchasima tova lanu ul’chol Yisrael.
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