Parshas Behar-Bechukosai 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- May 22
- 2 min read
והתודו את עונם (כו-מ) ואף אשר הלכו עמי בקרי (כו-מ) אף אני אלך עמם בקרי והבאתי אתם בארץ אויביהם ... (כו-מא)
At first glance, the flow of these posukim seems incongruous. If Klal Yisroel admits and articulates a viduy of sorts, why does Hashem say, “I, too, will go with the concept of קרי - coincidence and happenstance, and banish you to enemy territory?”
R’ Shimon Schwab zt”l answers as follows. Seemingly, from the constant refrain of קרי in the תוכחה it would appear that one of, if not the main, cause of such harsh retribution, is Klal Yisroel having the attitude of קרי - coincidence. Therefore, when they do feel remorseful, the regret should be focused on correcting that attitude.
Yet, the posuk says, "והתודו את עונם ואת עון אבתם". True, you will admit the sins, but it’s only the "ואף אשר הלכו עמי בקרי". It is only as an afterthought that you mentioned the קרי aspect. It is practically missing the point. Thus, Hashem cannot forgive them just yet, until they learn their lesson fully.
He then quotes from R’ Shamshon Raphael Hirsch zt”l who says as follows. If a yid goes around his daily routine and only haphazardly does mitzvos if they happen to come his way, then Hashem will do the same. As it says, "ה' צלך" - Hashem is like the shade or shadow, mirroring our attitude. So then, when He is מטיב the rest of the world, He will also help us - בקרי - but it’s not His main focus.
Woe to such a situation. Klal Yisroel can and is expected to live on a higher spiritual plane. As the earlier posuk states, "ופניתי אליכם" - “I, Hashem, will turn to you.” And as Rashi explains: "אפנה מכל עסקי לשלם שכרכם" - “I will stop all the myriad things I am busy with to repay you, my dear children.”
May we be zoche to live with the concept of "שויתי ה' ... תמיד", thereby promoting the ideal relationship with Hashem, thereby meriting His promise of, "ואולך אתכם קוממיות".