A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Looking Forward and Dreaming On
With parshas Shemos we begin to discover the many yesodos which define our destiny for eternity. Every posuk contains nuanced filled messages for us to model and learn from. One halacha derived from this week’s parsha is especially insightful on inspiring the vision each Yid is supposed to seek to build a successful future.
Following Moshe Rabbeinu’s encounter with the Ribbono Shel Olam at the sneh, he returns to Midyan to get Yisro’s permission to embark on the arduous mission of redeeming Klal Yisrael from Mitzrayim. (That sense of derech eretz for his father-in-law is a lesson in and of itself as Moshe Rabbeinu puts Hashem Yisborach on hold while he, with Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s consent, seeks the acquiescence of Yisro for his sacred mission.) B”H Yisro provides his consent. In so doing he tells Moshe Rabbeini, “leich l’Shalom.” And the rest is history.
Chazal explain that this expression, of lech l’shalom, is not some innocuous arbitrary phrase of goodbye offered to Moshe by the Kohein Midyan. In fact, the gemarah in maseches Brachos, (64a) teaches that when an individual is saying goodbye to his friend he should NOT say lech b’shalom rather lech l’Shalom. Why? For Yisro said Lech l’shalom to Moshe Rabbeinu and Moshe was as successful. Whereas, Dovid Hamelech said lech b’shalom to Avshalom and soon thereafter, Avshalom encountered his tragic demise.
How are we to understand this nuance. What is the actual difference between l’shlaom and b’Shalom. Why is one a good omen and the other portend death and suffering?
The Eitz Yosef in this week’s Medrash Tanchuma provides us the answer. He explains that b’Shalom indicates a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment which has reached its apex. It reflects mah shekvar kanah, what one has already achieved. There is no more room or, for that matter, a need to grow. All is done, the chapter is closed and the book complete. How poignant, when we only look back we have no future. We have arrived at the proverbial end. Without dreams and ambitions life is all but over. Thus we tell a niftar upon his interment lech b’Shalom as his life is complete.
However, says the Eitz Yosef, the individual who is vibrant and alive desires to grow and accomplish. He still has a destiny to seek. There is a mission to take on, goals to achieve. He is hungry to shteig and strive step by step l’shalom toward shelaimus, in a never ending pursuit of growth and advancement in avodas Hashem. Indeed, when one’s vision is set l’shalom, toward the future, toward making a difference, bright and successful prospects await him.
Interestingly, this vital yesod is presented to Klal Yisrael before our geula from Mitzrayim, even before Moshe Rabbeinu returns to Mitzrayim! Indeed, we are being taught that one requisite foundation in becoming the am Segula, a nation of destiny, is that we must be ready and willing to look forward and dream on. We must never be complacent. Rather we must seek spiritual ambitions to strive for and sacred goals to shteig towards. Climbing ever higher in pursuit of shelaimus, we must be prepared and eager to make a difference. Only then will we be zocheh that sheim shamyim will be misaheiv through us, giving our life meaning; then, now and in the future.
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