Bs”d
Parshas Matos – Masai (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
The Medrash in this weeks’ parsha brings a Chazal that reflects a basic foundation that is related to almost areas of our avodas Hashem and is likewise specifically related to the present “bain Hametzorim” (22:1). If one devotes himself to Torah and Mitzvos he will be exempt from his worldly obligations. Many would understand this as a type of reward however getting to the root it is related to the principle seen from the episode when R’ Akiva was jailed for publicly teaching Torah and his nephew after criticizing his uncle, was likewise imprisoned for political reasons and declared: Lucky are you that was imprisoned for Torah. It was Divinely decreed for us both to be imprisoned. Lucky are you who fulfilled this obligation through Torah. Getting back to our Medrash if one is destined to sweat and toil lucky is the one to fulfill this Divine decree in Torah.
A certain amount of sadness is decreed—lucky is the one who fulfills this through his mourning over the Churban.
We are living and experiencing the extreme darkness of the galus and we should be zocheh to see the redemption speedily in our days.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.