Parshas Behar-Bechukosai 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- May 22
- 2 min read
והתהלכתי בתוככם והייתי לכם לאלקים ... (כו-יב)
MASHAL: An ordinary-looking fellow was known to be very scrupulous in shemiras einayim, guarding his eyes. His friends were always astounded by his pious traits despite being a regular and normal individual. “Do you perhaps have no yetzer hara?” they would ask him.
One day he revealed something astounding: “As a young bachur, I controlled my eyes in an exceptional manner. At that point, I hadn’t had such a yetzer hara, and so it was relatively ‘easy’ for me. One year on Purim, under the influence of alcohol, a friend approached me, shaking me like a lulav. He asked me for a beracha. ‘You’re the tzaddik of the yeshivah,’ he told me. ‘I want a beracha from you!’”
“Those positive words penetrated my heart. From then on, every time I am put to the test, I remind myself, ‘I’m the tzaddik of the yeshivah, it’s not befitting for me not to guard my eyes!’” Although that drunk bachur probably remembered nothing of our conversation the very next day, his inspiration stayed with me all this time, reminding me of who I am and preventing me from any pitfalls!”
NIMSHAL: Hashem tells us, if we do what’s right, “I will go amongst you.” The great baal mussar, R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l, explains, that once man was created, the powers of the world were put in his hands. When man does good, good spirits are created and tremendous blessings are showered upon him [and the world]. The same is true when bad deeds are espoused. Therefore, when a Jew sets course in the right direction, Hashem “goes amongst him,” showering him with the wherewithal to reach even greater heights. We need to be aware of the subtle messages Hashem constantly sends and use them to grow to spiritual elevation.