Parshas Tzav (Shabbos HaGadol) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
והיו כל זדים וכל עשה רשעה קש ... (מלאכי ג-יט)
In the Haftorah of Shabbos HaGadol, Malachi HaNavi describes the callous skepticism that the Jewish people felt regarding divine reward and punishment and how despite their poor behavior they still achieved wealth and prosperity. Malachi describes their day of reckoning and how “all the arrogant and all the doers of evil shall be straw.” Why straw? What is the comparison?
R’ Chanoch Zundel Ben Yosef zt”l (Etz Yosef) explains that straw is something that is used to house the wheat kernel inside, and once the wheat is harvested, the straw is discarded and used for fertilizer. Nevertheless, straw can also be used to make a fire. Thus, says Malachi, although Bnei Yisroel saw moments of wealth and prosperity despite their sinful ways - like the discarded straw being used to make a fire, the truth is that their sinful actions make them no better than the basic use of discarded straw - as dirty fertilizer that is thrown on the ground. This ought to awaken even the most ardent skeptic to once again believe that there are always consequences for one’s actions.
As we enter this unique period on the Jewish calendar, the Zman Cheiruseinu, and we remember the great miracles Hashem performed for our forefathers all those years ago, as well as the vast wealth we accumulated in the aftermath of Yetzias Mitzrayim, it is important to not lose sight of our ultimate purpose - namely to bring honor to the great name of Hashem and to do His mitzvos and learn His Torah.