Give It All You Got
A thought for Parashas Ki Savo
I have a beautiful painting in my home that depicts Jews carrying baskets of fruit to Jerusalem to offer to the Kohanim for Bikkurim. This artwork always fires up my imagination, making me long for those extraordinary days. I can almost see the scene: thousands of Jews making their way toward Jerusalem, their wagons overflowing with fruit, and presenting it to the Kohanim while reciting the special Bikkurim prayer.
So I was taken aback when I learned the Tiferes Shlomo by Rav Shlomo Radomsker. He says that a Jew may bring just two or three dates in his basket as an offering, and even with this small gift, he earns the privilege to say the thanksgiving proclamation. This made me wonder: where are the bundles and the overflowing wagons I had imagined? Why would someone bring only a few dates?
The Radomsker explains that a tzaddik, has the unique ability to elevate prayers to Hashem. The purpose of bringing the Bikkurim to the Kohen, who serves as the generation's tzaddik, is to allow him to elevate these offerings to a higher plane. He notes that the term "basket" טנא is a symbolic acronym representing the elements of prayer: "טעם" for tune, "ניקוד" for vowel, and "אות" for letter.
The message here is encouraging. Even if you find yourself in a low spiritual state, where you're unable to dedicate much time to prayer or Torah study, don't be discouraged. Even if you bring just a "small amount of fruit," symbolized by a mere two or three dates, your offerings still have value. The tzaddik of your generation has the ability to elevate those humble offerings of prayer and Torah learning.
As I continued learning the Parashah, I noticed that a recurring theme is that of 'Simcha,' or happiness. Rashi points out that Bikkurim, the first fruit offerings, were brought only during times of happiness, specifically between the festivals of Shavuos and Sukkos.
Additionally, the Parashah goes on to describe the events at Har Gerizim and Har Ebal. Here, Hashem outlines the blessings that will come if we follow His commandments, and the curses that will befall us if we turn away from Him. Interestingly, the Torah states that these curses will occur because we did not serve Hashem with happiness, or Simcha.
What links the concept of 'Simcha,' or happiness, in the Tochacha, to the 'Simcha' associated with the Bikkurim?
This week, my sister Kayla hosted an Asifa to support Agunot, featuring influential speakers who offered encouragement to these women. In a heartfelt and moving talk, which you can find here, Rav Moshe Weinberger shared an impactful story about Rebbe Motele of Hornosteipel. He was a Chassidic Rebbe known for being a confidant to many who were suffering. One day, after listening to numerous stories of hardship from people seeking his guidance to overcome their difficulties, he dramatically opened his shirt, exposed his chest, and cried out, "Master of the Universe! Look into my heart. I can't bear any more."
Rav Weinberger elaborated on this concept, he quotes the passuk1 that says Hashem has a hidden place called "Mistarim," where He goes to cry. The Gemara2 raises a question: How can Hashem cry, after all another passuk tells us that where Hashem resides, there is only joy ("Oz V'chedva Bimkomo")? Doesn't Hashem dislike sadness?
The Gemara resolves this by differentiating between the external and internal aspects of Hashem. The Mekubalim extend this idea to people, explaining that outwardly, we should try to maintain a facade of happiness, regardless of our internal struggles. But internally, in our own private moments with Hashem, we have a hidden space inside us, akin to "Mistarim," where we can cry. Hashem shares this emotional space with us, crying alongside us. So where does the joy come in? According to the Mekubalim, even though Hashem has a hidden space for sorrow, there's another, even deeper layer where joy still resides.
Rav Weinberger reinforced his point with another impactful story about the Chazon Ish. After a long day filled with hearing people's woes, the Chazon Ish turned to his Gemara and began studying with apparent joy. His attendant was puzzled: How could the Chazon Ish be so affected by people's suffering and yet seem to move on so quickly? Sensing the attendant's confusion, the Chazon Ish explained that, while the stories of suffering did deeply affect him, there was an even deeper part of him where joy could still reside.
The takeaway is that we should have the capacity for both sorrow and happiness. While we should allow ourselves to feel and express grief, we should also cultivate a deeper internal space where we can experience joy, no matter the circumstances.
The band 8th Day has a hit song called 'All You Got,' which captures a powerful message through its poetic lyrics. The essence of the song is that life asks only one question of us: Did we give it all we've got?
After one hundred and twenty five years
You go up to heaven you climb all those stairs
They won’t ask you were you wise like Solomon
They won’t ask you were you strong like Samson
They’ll ask just one question
And you’ll give just one answer
It’s the end of the game
And only one thing matters
They’ll say did you give it all you got
(Chorus:)
Because in this life you only have what you got
So give it all you got
In this world we only have what we got
So give it all you got
This message resonates when thinking about the concept of Simcha in our lives. Whether we are abundant in blessings, symbolized by wagons full of fruit, or are burdened with challenges, represented by having only a few dates to offer as Bikkurim, the key is how we approach these circumstances. We must dig deep within ourselves to find and embrace joy; we have to give life everything we have.
In the Vidui Maaser, we say שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי בְּקוֹל֙ ה’ אֱלֹהָ֔י עָשִׂ֕יתִי כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתָֽנִי "I have obeyed my God; I have done just as You commanded me." Rashi interprets this to mean, "I have rejoiced and have also made others rejoice."
To quote the song by 8th Day once more:
I did what I said
I got no one to blame
Only one thing matters
At the end of the game
They’ll say did you give it all you got
By recognizing our situation and giving life our all, while finding the joy within us regardless of circumstances, we may be deserving of continued bracha. As the Tefilla concludes: May Hashem look down from heaven, bless us, and elevate us to be a "holy and treasured people," just as promised.
Yeremiah 13:17
Chagiga 5b