Parshas Toldos 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
ואתנם לו מורא וייראני ומפני שמי נחת הוא ... (מלאכי ב-ה)
In the Haftorah, Hashem’s love for the children of Yaakov Avinu is on full display. Malachi HaNavi contrasts this great love with the Almighty’s equally great hatred for the children of Esav. Malachi states, “And I gave the covenant and its assurances ... to Shevet Levi ... and I will place a fear in their hearts and they will fear Me (Hashem).” Chazal ask: what indeed is so praiseworthy of Shevet Levi if they adhere to the covenant out of fear? Surely, all the Shevatim would be careful to safeguard these special stringencies if they were under such fear as well.
R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l (Even Yisroel) explains that this is a lesson for all of Klal Yisroel to learn. For a person was put on this world to toil. He may toil in Torah and mitzvos. He may toil in chessed. He may also toil in other things unconnected to Torah. Either way, a person is designed to always want to toil.
However, if one chooses to expend his energy and toil in Torah, then that person will be exempt from toiling in mundane matters. He will then not only gain incredible knowledge from the Torah, and the insightful words of Chazal, but he will also experience true peace and serenity in life. Therefore, the fear that Hashem places upon Klal Yisroel is a healthy fear designed to help a person choose to toil in Torah and mitzvos and only fear Hashem. However, if he chooses to toil in other matters, then he will begin to fear all the other things in the world.