TorahSweets- With All Your Money
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
We pronounce the Shema at least twice a day and there are numerous perplexing aspects that deserve our attention. Last week’s Parsha contained the first paragraph of Shema, which discusses the Unity, Power and love of Hashem. In this Parsha, we have the second paragraph of “VeHayah” which discusses the acceptance of the Mitzvos and reward and punishment.
(והיה אם שמוע תשמעו אל מצותי… ולעבדו בכל לבבכם ובכל נפשכם (יא:יג
“If you will all listen… to serve Hashem with your hearts and your souls” (11:13).
In the first paragraph, it states (6:5), “You shall love Hashem with all your heart, all your soul and all your money”. This is stated in the singular form. In our Parsha, it states (11:13), “…to serve Hashem with all your hearts and all your souls”. This is in the plural form. There are two other distinct differences as well. Firstly, in our Parsha there is no mention of “money” and secondly, the first paragraph discusses loving Hashem and here it discusses serving Him.
Rabbi Chaim Volozin zt”l gives a famous explanation, which in truth is found in the words of Rashi in our Parsha (see last Rashi on 11:13). The first paragraph is hinting to the highest level attainable for individuals; whereas, the second paragraph is discussing everyone. Meaning, the level of loving Hashem with all of your money is the highest achievement. Someone that puts his full trust in Hashem regarding one of the hardest areas in life, Parnasah, livelihood, shows their true colors. Rabbi Volozin states that this primarily refers to one who lives life according to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Berachos 35b) who makes Torah his sole focus of work. The second paragraph discusses the job of the followers of Rabbi Yismael (there) who states that man should spend part of his day working in vocational pursuits. (The greatness of each person following either option and all of the details is beyond the scope of this article).
I suggest that this now explains why the context of Shema is “love of Hashem” whereas VeHayah focuses on service. The first level towards growth is one who sees himself as a servant of Hashem. The next stage is to develop the love. In fact, without the love and commitment, one would not be motivated to ascend higher. See Rabbeinu Ovadia Bartenura on Avos (1:3) for vital clarification of this entire topic.
Hence, the common-folk begin with the service of Hashem. The individuals then develop and excel in love of Hashem. Certainly, both categories have both, servitude and love, as both verses ultimately apply to everyone, but we are stressing their dominant feature.
The more that one loves Hashem and appreciates all of the goodness which He bestows upon him, the more one dedicates his life towards the true trust, love and service of Hashem.
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Extra Short and Sweet Exalted Mitzvos
The first verse in the Parsha states that if we follow the Mitzvos, we will be greatly rewarded. What needs to be understood is the term “Eikev, heel” which is used. Rashi states that it refers to Mitzvos that people “trample on” by stating that they are minor. Hence, the verse is promising reward to one who keeps even the forsaken Mitzvos.
Humans are greatly influenced by their surroundings. The place that we reside has a profound impact upon what we view as “normal” and “acceptable”. Our peers together with us, define the standards and we effect each other’s attitudes and outlooks. This can work for the positive or negative.
“Eikev” means that even when we live in a society that tramples upon Mitzvos and calls them unimportant, never-the-less, we return the Mitzvos back to their true value and perform them to their fullest.
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Rabbi Yosef Tropper is a Rebbi at the New Baltimore Yeshiva; Personal tutor and mentor; and a weekly contributor at Closetotorah.com. We are proud to bring his Divrei Torah and words of inspiration to the greater Baltimore Jewish Community as a guest on JewishByte.info.
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