B"H

Wednesday, Menachem Av 20, 5776 / August 24, 2016 - Hakhel year

As mentioned yesterday, this week’s Parsha, Aikev, like the entire Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim) are Moshe's parting words to the Jewish people before his death, after 40 years of leadership.

The Book of Deuteronomy, which is the fifth and last Book of the Torah, covers the last of five weeks of Moshe’s life. Moshe as a true shepherd, who cared for his people as they were about to enter into the Promised Land, reminds them of their past sins and tells them that if they want to live in peace in the land, they shouldn’t repeat their previous mistakes and adhere to G-d’s commandments.

Moshe tells them, “Beware lest you forget G-d your G-d, in not keeping His commandments, and His ordinances, and His statutes, which I command you this day. Lest when you have eaten and are satisfied and you built good houses and dwell therein, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied. Then your heart may be lifted up, and you will forget G-d your G-d Who brought you out from the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage…And you will say in your heart: ‘My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember G-d your G-d, for it is He that gives you the power to get wealth…”

A Chassid once came to his Rebbe for advice. “Rebbe,” he began, “there is a business for sale and I would like to buy it. I think I can be very successful with it. I need your advice and blessings.” He told the Rebbe all the details of the business.

“But, what if this problem comes up,” asked the Rebbe, pointing out a certain problem he may encounter. The Chassid thought for a while and said, “Then I will do this and this.”

“And what if this problem comes up,” the Rebbe continued, specifying another potential problem. “In that case I will have to do this and this..” The Rebbe mentioned a few more problems which may happen and the Chassid, who had his business plan very well worked out, told the Rebbe, what he would do. The Rebbe said, “I don’t think this business is for you.”

Then came another Chassid to the Rebbe and asked if he should buy the same business. The Rebbe asked him the exact same questions as he did the first Chassid. To each of the Rebbe’s questions he too, had an answer. But he prefaced his replies each time, “with G-d’s help… With G-d’s help I will do this and this..” The Rebbe told him to invest in the business and gave his blessings.

The first Chassid came to the Rebbe and asked: “Why did you tell the second one to buy the business and not me?”

Replied the Rebbe: “When I pointed out the potential problems you may encounter, you answered that you were going to do this and this. I knew that it was too much for you to solve the problems. But the second one told me that he was going to solve the problems with G-d’s help. With a partner like that.. I knew that no problem was beyond solving… Thus I told him to buy the business…

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY