How to Succeed in
Torah and Mitzvos
Advice from the
Sfas Emes
In this week’s parasha, God describes the Mishkan and its
vessels to Moshe Rabbeinu. The Midrash[1]
tells us that because Moshe Rabbeinu had difficulty understanding the
intricacies of the Menorah, God showed him a virtual Menorah. Even so, Moshe Rabbeinu found it too
difficult to make so God told him to throw a talent of gold into the fire and
God Himself would fashion it.
The Sfas Emes asks that if Moshe Rabbeinu could not make the
Menorah why did God bother showing it to him in the first place? God, after all, certainly knew the limits of
Moshe Rabbeinu’s capabilities. The Sfas
Emes explains that it was crucial for Moshe Rabbeinu to desire to make the
Menorah, even if he could not. But if Moshe Rabbeinu had trouble picturing the
Menorah from God’s description of it, then he was not able to properly desire
it. So, God showed Moshe Rabbeinu a virtual
Menorah so that he would know what he must desire. Moshe Rabbeinu then did whatever he could to
the best of his ability. Because of
Moshe Rabbeinu’s desire to see the completed Menorah, God helped and finished
the job.
The Sfas Emes says that this is an important lesson that
applies to every Jew and to every mitzvah for we certainly do not have the
power to achieve the will of God. How
could we? God is infinite and we are
finite. However, we are required to
yearn to achieve the will of God and to work towards that goal to the best of
our abilities. According to the
intensity of our desire, we can achieve the will of God with His help even if
it is beyond our capabilities.
Along these same lines the Chiddushei HaRim explains a Gemara
in Maseches Megillah (6b). Rebbi
Yitzchak says that if someone tells
you that he worked hard in Torah and he found success, believe him – יָגַעְתִּי וּמָצָאתִי תַּאֲמִין. The Chiddushei HaRim points out the
incongruity in Rebbi Yitzchak’s words.
Rebbi Yitzchak’s choice of words connotes a found item. Chazal[2]
tell us that items are found unintentionally – ג' בָּאִין בְּהֵיסֶח הַדָעַת ... מְצִיאָה – the exact opposite of focused
work towards a goal. Conventionally, if
a person works hard and says that he succeeded and realized his goal, then we
can believe him because we believe that his hard work caused his success. Why does Rebbi Yitzchak say that if a person
works hard to attain Torah and succeeds, he “found” success, implying an
unintentional find not directly resulting from his hard work?
The Chiddushei HaRim answers that Rebbi Yitzchak is teaching us a profound
lesson about success in Torah. The
reality is that an understanding of the ultimate truth in the Torah is beyond
our capabilities. The only way to reach
this understanding is for it to be given to us.
Rebbi Yitzchak is teaching us that God gives the gift of understanding
and connecting with Truth to those who try hard to acquire it.
We see this clearly when Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Mount Sinai
to receive the Torah. He worked
hard. He did not eat or drink for forty
days. At the end of the forty days the
pasuk relates, “וַיִּתֵּן
אֶל־מֹשֶׁה ... שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת הָעֵדֻת/He
gave Moshe … the two tablets of testimony …” (Shmos 31:18) The Midrash[3]
says that the Torah was given to Moshe Rabbeinu as a gift.
When it comes to serving God, He helps us to attain goals
that are beyond our abilities. The key
to success is to cultivate a strong desire for it.
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