Bs”d
Parshas Shoftim (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
The Medrash in our sedra brings the pasuk in Mishlei: “Lech el nemala otzel”—motivating and directing us to observe the ant and be inspired from his diligence, commitment and honesty.
One way of understanding the concept of learning from an ant is that we should have the sensitivity, that by just observing an exemplary demonstration of admirable traits or practices should inspire and motivate us to emulate and adopt it. The Chazal tell us this principle is so vital that they defined a person with wisdom as someone who has feelers out to learn from everyone. “Aizeh hu chacham halomed mikol odom.” The Gemara cites assorted admirable traits we are expected to learn from various gentile nations, some of whom were our enemies and actually possessed many evil traits. Nevertheless, their admirable characteristics the Chazal instructed us to learn from and emulate.
There is, however, another concept in learning from the ant and other animals as Chazal point out we should likewise learn from. Where do these creatures acquire the admirable character, traits, and actions? It is certainly not a conclusion of philosophical thoughts of ideas and not something passed down in their tradition. It is obvious that it was Divinely programmed into their brain and nervous system. Just as Hashem injected into the brain of a spider the complicated ability to construct a web which is the absolute marvel of the most advanced and sophisticated engineers, and the art of the beaver to construct a dam.
By observing these admirable traits that were Divinely programmed into the creation, we can project how many marvelous and admirable traits and characteristics we have contained within us that were likewise Divinely placed.
We find ourselves presently in Elul, the time of the year for rejuvenation and rehabilitation; a time for inspiration to weed out bad traits and rebuild our spiritual anatomy. The knowledge that we possess within ourselves the positive qualities is very reassuring, motivating and inspiring to accomplish the work cut out for us for the month of Elul.
In the generations of the past our forefathers stirred up great spiritual storms and upheavals and in the course of Elul made milestones of positive accomplishments. In our present-day weak generations we are frustrated at the lack of ability to reach the great realizations of our ancestors. I would suggest that we set for ourselves modest goals; small but concrete commitments for self-improvement in the areas we perceive ourselves needing upgrading.
We hope and pray the special z’chus and power of Elul bring us success and a blessing of a wonderful New Year for us and for all Klal Yisrael.