ויחד יתרו על כל הטובה...
Yisro rejoiced. Rashi says what was that Tovah that caused him to rejoice?
טובת המן והבאר והתורה
Now this combination seems to be inappropriate. How can you compare the fact that Klal Yisrael's sustenance was taken care of, that they were supported, to the fact that they received the Torah? It seems to be an inappropriate combination. HKB"H fed them, gave them to drink, and gave them the Torah. It needs a bit of an explanation.
Actually this reminds me of something I once heard from Rav Shimon Schwab. Rav Schwab was once speaking and asked the following question. He said that in Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'chol that beautiful Zemer that many of us either sing or say after Havdalah, it says
חטואתינו הוא ימחול, זרעינו וכספינו ירבה כחול
Rav Schwab asked how do you say that in one sentence, the importance of having children and the importance of having money? It seems inappropriate to be together. How much more of a question is it given that this is the song that begins Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'chol. HKB"H draws a distinction between things that are holy and things that are ordinary weekday items. When you are saying המבדיל בין קודש לחול, you talk about money and children in the same breath? It is a Davar Pele! Similar to the question on this Rashi.
Rav Schwab answered on the contrary. He said it is true that money is something which misleads people. It is a route of many types of evil, it causes people to do things they shouldn't do. Sometimes the desire for money causes people to sin, and sometimes it causes them to have misplaced values. Therefore, the pursuit of money is something that certainly has a negative connotation. Rav Schwab said that he once heard from an elderly Chochom that when Moshiach comes money will be referred to as Davar Acher, the other thing. Just as today many people refer to a Chazir or Tzora'as as Davar Acher, the unmentionable thing, when Moshiach comes money may be referred to in that way.
Rav Schwab said nevertheless, Zeh L'umas Zeh Asa Elokim. As much as something has a negative potential it has a positive potential. המבדיל בין קדש לחול at the moment that a person stands with an appreciation of a difference between things that are holy and things that are not, he can say זרעינו וכספינו ירבה כחול. HKB"H, my desire for money is as a tool for Kedusha. When someone wants money for an end onto itself then the desire for money misleads him. He wants the money he wants that end, and whatever means he needs to achieve that end is something that he is enticed to pursue. However, when one has the right idea regarding money, money itself as a means to serve Hashem, then he can add זרעינו וכספינו ירבה כחול. If it is a means, a method for Kedusha, then it can belong in the same sentence. Rav Schwab was deliberately saying this incidentally in an appeal in raising money for a Yeshiva which was appropriate because he was telling people that the money is there for that purpose.
I once heard from Rav Druk who related the following incident. He said there was a young man in Yeshiva who was struck by a car and was injured. His parent's pursued a suit against the driver of the vehicle and was set to collect money from the insurance company. This young man was a Chosson who had a Chasunah date set and the lawyer said to the young man if you would postpone your wedding for two or three weeks until you feel fully well then we would do better in court. We could point out that you didn't feel well and the wedding was postponed.
This boy at that time was learning in Eretz Yisrael and went to his Mashgiach and asked him. The Mashgiach responded and these were the words he said "Gelt is Blotte" money is mud and you don't postpone a wedding for money. The young man was under a lot of pressure from his parent's and therefore, this Mashgiach agreed to take him to Rav Schach to ask him for his advice. They went to Rav Schach and again this Mashgiach introduced the question to Rav Schach and said I told him that money is mud, it is dirt and you don't postpone a wedding for money. Rav Schach sat there and refused to answer the Shaila. Later, after the Mashgiach and the young man had left, Rav Schach went over to somebody and said the following. Of course the young man should not postpone his wedding for this type of a consideration. But I did not want to endorse the words of the Mashgiach that "Gelt is Blotte" money is mud, money is dirt. It is true, some people see money in a way that it is worthy of being called dirt. There are people who use their money for Kedusha, to be Kone Olam Habo. I could not endorse him saying "Gelt is Blotte." It is what you make of it.
Getting back to our Rashi. Rashi says על כל הטובה on all the good. The good was the Man, the B'air, and the Torah. The support. They had the support to sit and learn which is a wonderful thing. Lo Nitna Torah Ela L'ochlei HaMon. You want to be able to learn with a clear mind you need to be Ochlei Haman. Ochlei Haman on the one hand are people who don't have great demands and on the other hand people who are being sustained, are being supported. When it is done in a Derech of Kedusha that is wonderful.
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