THOUGHTS FOR PARASHAS NASO 5755
(by Rav Moshe Friedman,
Executive Vice-President of Ner Yisroel Yeshiva of Toronto)
"Hashem will show you favour and give you peace." (6:26)
One verse states "Hashem will show you favour" and another verse
states (D'vorim 10:17) "Hashem does not show favour". How can
both these verses be fulfilled? When K'lal Yisroel carries out
the will of Hashem then "Hashem will show you favour" and when
K"lal Yisroel does not carry out the will of Hashem, "Hashem
does not show favour". (Sifri)
The Talmud (1) adds significance to this question by stating that it was the angels that posed this contradiction and it was Hashem that responded. Hashem replied in the following manner, "Should I not show them favour, I wrote in the Torah that they should only say Birchas Hamazon when they have eaten to satisfaction and they are so eager to fulfill my will, they do so even after only eating an amount equal in size to an olive or an egg!" (Depending on the two different opinions, of Rebbi Meir and Rebbi Yehuda.) It is plausible that Hashem's answer to the angels is merely an example of B'nei Yisroel's devotion to execute the will of Hashem.
In this interpretation it is quite implicit that although Hashem generally does not show favour, this however does not apply to those that do more than the law requires. We still must understand why this particular mitzva of Birkas HaMazon was singled out to illustrate this aspect. There are other instances where B'nei Yisroel collectively accepted upon themselves stringent measures beyond the letter of the law. (2) The Chasam Sofer zt"l further asks why is it considered praiseworthy to make what may be an unnecessary b'racha and violate the injunction of uttering Hashem's name in vain? (3) The Chasam Sofer (4) takes an opposite view of the conventional intent of this statement of our Sages by saying that when B'nei Yisroel received the commandment of saying Birkas HaMazon they were on a level which resulted in a special Divine blessing that even when eating just an olive-sized amount they became fully satisfied. While it is true that wherever the term "eating" is mentioned, one must eat no less than an olive-sized portion, nevertheless, since regarding Birkas HaMazon the Torah stipulates "and you should be satiated", it is almost certain to assume that if one will reach satisfaction with less than an olive-sized portion he should still be obligated to say Birkas HaMazon. However, since the Jewish people are holy and fear transgressing the proscription against uttering Hashem's name in vain, they eat more than they want to or even can.
Concludes the Chasam Sofer, being they were so careful in respect to favouring Hashem's name, a commandment which has attached to it the harsh decree of "Hashem will not forgive", Hashem looked upon them also with favour which is in direct contrast to "Hashem will not forgive". It is interesting to note that this same explanation was given by the author of the Hafla'ah, Rav Pinchas Horowitz zt"l, who was the Rebbi of the Chasam Sofer. (5)
With the method of gematria we can find a hint to the words of the Chasam Sofer. On the verse "You will eat to satisfaction", the Toras Kohanim writes "One eats a minute amount and has satisfaction". The first three b'rachos of Birkas HaMazon emanate from the Torah. The fourth b'rocho is a Rabbinical blessing. There are 57 words in the first b'rocho, 86 words in the second and 78 in the third which totals 221, the same amount as the word "Kim'o" ( a minute amount), perhaps to allude that there is an obligation to say Birkas HaMazon even if one ate but a little provided one became full as a result.
We can now appreciate the meaning of "With a cup of salvation I will find favour" that is said in the Shabbos morning z'miros. (6) "Cup of salvation" refers to Birkas HaMazon, as we find at the end of Tractate P'sochim (7), where the G'moro discusses Birkas HaMazon at the festive meal which will take place when Moshiach will come. Being that B'nei Yisroel are so scrupulous in their observance and go beyond the call of duty, therefore Hashem will indeed show them favour. (8) May we be favoured to partake in this seuda speedily in our days.
Footnotes
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