Now That You've Asked II - Spiritual & Material Wealth - Behar - Bechukosai 5772

We find in Parshas Bichukosai before the Tochacha words of Chizuk the wonderful things that will take place as it says in 26:3 (אִם-בְּחֻקֹּתַי, תֵּלֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִצְו‍ֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם). We find in reference to Shemitta as well a promise of good things happening as it says in 26:5 (וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשֹׂבַע). In the case of Shemitta many Meforshim ask the following question. Rashi says on (וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשֹׂבַע) that (אוכל קמעא והוא מתברך במעיו) that there will be a blessing that you will eat a little and you will be satisfied. 

The Meforshim question why is this Beracha necessary as after all we were already promised that if we keep the Shemittah that there will be an abundance of Tevua. There will be enough Tevua for 3 years. If so, why do we need (אוכל קמעא והוא מתברך במעיו) that we will eat a little and be satisfied, we will be wealthy and will have plenty of Tevua?

The usual Teretz something I believe that I said in previous years is something that was attributed to Rav Pam. That there are two types of Berachos, there are people who have to work more to have more and those people have the Beracha of having an abundance. There are people who are on a higher level and don't want to work more and like working less, for them there is a Beracha of (אוכל קמעא והוא מתברך במעיו).

This year I would like to share with you another Teretz from the Igros Moshe. Rav Moshe in the Igros Moshe in Yoreh Dai'a Cheilek 3 Siman 71 offers a different explanation. The question was if you are already going to be blessed with plenty then why is it necessary to be blessed with (אוכל קמעא והוא מתברך במעיו). Rav Moshe makes a very important remark. He says that even if a person is wealthy he is better off not changing his lifestyle, still living in a simple life. (אוכל קמעא והוא מתברך במעיו). Even though the person will have plenty of Tevuah, he will not need to spend that extra plenty. The small amount that he spends when he wasn't wealthy will be adequate for him. This is a very important Beracha. We live in a generation where more and more people have more and more assets and become wealthier and wealthier and they don't become happier. This is because as they become wealthier their lifestyle and needs change. Says Rav Moshe, even if you have plenty still (אוכל קמעא והוא מתברך במעיו) eat a small amount that you had until now and be satisfied and that is a true blessing. It is a challenge. When you find yourself saying that now I can afford this let me move up and get a fancier car or a fancier vacation, don't let it happen to you it is a trap. It is a quicksand trap. A trap into which a person sinks and strangely enough as he makes more and more money he finds that the money he has is less and less adequate for his needs. 

Right before the end of the Parsha we have the Mitzva of Maiser, giving 1 tenth of your sheep to the Bais Hamikdash as a Korban, separating every tenth animal whether it is sheep or other animals and giving it as a Korban to the Bais Hamikdash as is found in 27:32 (וְכָל-מַעְשַׂר בָּקָר וָצֹאן, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲבֹר תַּחַת הַשָּׁבֶט--הָעֲשִׂירִי, יִהְיֶה-קֹּדֶשׁ לַירוָר). Here we have a Halacha that Hoasiri Yiyeh Kodesh and even though the tenth animal is automatically Kodesh we have a Mitzvah to verbally state Kodesh as the tenth animal comes out and it is part of the Mitzvah of Maiser. 

Here again I would like to bring you an insight from Rav Moshe which can be found in the first volume of Darash Moshe. Rav Moshe says the lesson here is the following. When a person achieves a level of Kedusha it is very important for him to take notice of it. To note the Kedusha and to say Kodesh this is holy. When a person takes note of the fact that he is growing in Ruchniyos so then Mi Sheyaish Lo Mana Ratza Masayim. Someone who has $100 wants $200. Somebody who has a certain level of Ruchniyos will want more. Therefore, when a person becomes wealthier so to speak in Inyanei Kedusha things that have to do with holiness, a person should take note and verbalize it and realize what he achieved. With that he could move on. 

Rav Pam would say about Yeshiva Bacharim who are successful in their learning but don't see it. The way they see it they are a nobody. Rav Pam would say if you think that you are a nobody than the Bracha of Mi Sheyaish Lo Mana Ratza Masayim won't happen because you think that you are a nobody. So there is no way to want double of what you have if you think you have nothing. The importance here is to make the statement Kodosh this is holy. 

Take Rav Moshe’s 2 Vertlach together and we have an important lesson. The Vort on Parshas Behar says that as you gain more and more wealth, more and more material goods you should be careful to keep your old lifestyle. Don’t notice this that you have in an increase in Gashmios. His Vort on Parshas Bichukosai says that if it is a spiritual gain, if you are gaining spiritually make sure to notice it. Make sure to take note. Because of this Middah of Mi She’yeish Lo Mana Rotzeh Masayim, when it comes to spiritual things it is a wonderful thing.