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).
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.
