Shoftim
Parashat Shoftim and Elul - 5784
Yirat Shamayim
The Gemara in Brachot writes “everything is Divinely controlled except for yirat shamayim (fear of Heaven)”. The Chidushei Harim explains that at a time of nisayon, i.e. when a person faces a challenging situation, it is as if Hashem leaves a person to tackle the nisayon himself – without Divine assistance. When this happens, the only resource a person has to face up to the nisayon is with his own supply of yirat shamayim. This is what is meant by the statement “everything is Divinely controlled except for yirat shamayim”. During Elul it is incumbent on us to build up our reserves of yirat shamayim.
It is well known about Rav Yisrael Salanter that from Shabbat mevarchim Elul he would be in a state of constant worry and concern about the yemei hadin. When he would be asked why he is so apprehensive and afraid he would reply ”Elul!”.
The Tears of Missed Opportunity
The Gemara in Berachot relates that when Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakkai was on his deathbed, his students entered and saw that he was crying. The talmidim asked Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakkai why he was crying? and he responded that when he realises that he will soon be taken to be judged in front of the King of Kings, is that not a reason to cry?
The talmidim then requested a bracha from Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakkai and he blessed them that their fear of Heaven should be [at least] like their fear of man.
The Gemara needs some explanation. Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakkai was crying, because crying is an expression of a loss of potential and a missed opportunity. The feelings of loss or of an opportunity that could have been utilised better, can cause a person to cry. We see this idea with Hagar who cried while her son Yishmael was ill and dying. Hagar at that moment was realising that she was about to lose her only son, and the offspring that she shared with Avraham Avinu. All her dreams and aspirations were about to be shattered, and this brought her to tears.
Our Personal Gates
Parashat Shoftim begins with the instruction to set up judges by the “gates” in every town and city. The Shelah Hakadosh writes based on the Sefer Yetzira that the various apertures of a person, e.g. his eyes and ears, are referred to as “gates” and we are being instructed to “place guards” by these gates of the body, i.e. to monitor and control what we see and read and how we speak.
We are now several days into Elul. Hashem wants us to be more alert, more awake and contemplating our lives and our deeds. Are we using our lives, our time and our potential to the fullest? Or could they be better utilised? This is our task in Elul, to contemplate and to analyse how we are using our lives and our time, and if we can improve in any area.
May we all merit utilising Elul properly to prepare ourselves for the yemei din, and we should all merit a Shanah Tovah!
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Gad Bouskila
