NASO

The announcement by the children of Israel, "We will do, and we will hear..." (Exodus 24:7) was absolutely necessary. Without it, we would not have merited to receive the Torah.

Moreover, according to our teacher, the gaon, Rav Eliyahu Lopian z"l, in his sefer Lev Eliyahu, when Israel announced, "We will do, and we will hear...," they obligated themselves to unconditionally listen to G-d's word, and to fulfill the word of G-d with total dedication and even the ultimate self-sacrifice, if necessary. Therefore, Chazal said that these words, "we will do and we will hear," are the words of the ministering angels.

From where did Israel draw the strength to take upon themselves such a heavy burden and responisbility? Didn't they have any qualms that maybe they would not be able to fulfill the obligation?

Rooted within the children of Israel is a tremendous power of truth which they received from their patriarchs. Truth is not frightened away by anything. For the sake of truth a person of truth is willing to give everthing, even his life. Since they knew that G-d is true, and the Torah He has given them is true, then they accepted the respnsibility with courage and daring, truthfully, without any uncertainties or equivocations. They accepted it for themselves and for their descendants forever, to fulfill the Torah in all its details and particulars.

We have seen throughout the years of our exile that the children of Israel have courageously given their lives with supernatural strength for the sake of the Torah and her mitzvot. That is what happened with our forefathers in Spain when forced conversion or exile or destruction was decreed upon them. They were tortured and underwent terrible sufferings, but they did not exchange their religion.

This superhuman power was implanted within our people when they announced "we will do and we will say." At that time Heaven itself was amazed and aroused, and a voice came forth and said, "Who revealed to my children this secret which the ministering angels use."

(Yalkut Lekach Tov, Shevuot)

The holy Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk once came to his Rebbe, the holy gaon, Rebbe Shmelke, in Nicholsberg. When Rebbe Elimelech was passing through one of the streets on Shabbat he heard a voice coming from one of the houses. It was the voice of someone studying Torah with fiery inspiration and awesome fear and love. Rebbe Elimelech entered the house, and saw a young man studying there. It was the gaon Rabbi Mordechai Bennett.

Rebbe Elimelech stood there for some time. Rebbe Mordechai did not see him or feel his presence because of the tremendous concentration with which he was studying. When he finished studying, Rebbe Elimelech went to him and said, "My brother, my brother, do teshuvah (repent)! Return to your Creator, may His Name be blessed."

When the gaon, Rebbe Mordechai, heard these words, he became confused and his head began to swim. He could not say anything. He knew that Rebbe Shmelke loved Rebbe Elimelech and honored him very much. He went to Rebbe Shmelke and told him what Rebbe Elimelech had said, although Rebbe Elimelech had not seen him do anything except study Torah. And nevertheless, he had said something so frightening.

Rebbe Shmelke said, "I will tell you the meaning of it. You were fasting the entire week, and consequently, you missed time that you could have spent learning Torah were it not for your penances. A person like you must study Torah and not fast which wastes your time and strength from the study of Torah."

This is like a very poor man who turned to a rich man to ask for a loan of fifty golden coins because he had a chance to do a business deal that might stand him on his feet. The wealthy man agreed to make the loan, but he said that he did not have the money with him at that particular moment. He told the poor man to come to his house in the evening to receive the money.

That night the rich man did not leave his house because he was expecting the poor man to come for the loan, but the poor man did not come. The rich man thought that he must have been detained for some unexpected reason.

The next day the two met again, and the poor man began again to request from the rich man a loan because he has a chance to make business, etc. The rich man said, "I told you yesterday that the money is ready and waiting for you. You only need to come in the evening to my house, as we agreed, and collect the loan."

That night the rich man again stayed home, but once again the poor man did not arrive. And then, on the third day, the two met again, and the poor man began once again to make his request to the rich man. This time the rich man could not control himself and he rebuked the poor man. "You are a liar and a faker. I have offered you all the money you have requested, and I have wasted several hours in order to make myself and the money available to you, and you did not come for the money. You are a faker."

It is the same with us. G-d is definitely prepared to give us understanding and intellect, even more than we are prepared to receive it. Undoubtedly, He is ready every moment to help us hear, learn and teach, to guard and to do. All He wants from us is one thing -- to come to the study hall, to sit down to learn, to fix times for Torah. However, it seems that all these prayers and requests we are making of Him are only expressions of our lips. They are nice statements that we say during prayers, but immediately afterwards our attention and our minds are turned to the transitory and even the foolish things of this world, and we do not give any consideration to the words we said a few moments beforehand.

And then, the next day we ask again, and then we ask again, day after day.

Concerning this unfortunate phenomenon the prophet has cried, "Take with you words..." (Hoshea 14:3). In other words, take the words of your requests, do not forget them, pay attention to them, and then, "...Return to G-d." Then you will return in teshuvah shlaimah.

(Mishlai Hachofetz Chaim)