Parshas Bechukosai

Please Accept This Magnificent Gift – For Free!

 

“If you will follow My decrees and perform My commandments.” (Vayikrah 26:1)

The Alter of Slabodka, HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel said:

• • It would have been worthwhile for Hashem to create the whole world and have its existence for 6,000 years just for one Jew to respond Baruch Hu U’voruch Shmo one time.
  • Furthermore, 1,000 times Baruch Hu U’voruch Shmo does not equal to one Amen.
  • 1,000 Amens is not equal to one Amen Yhai Shmei Rabbah.
  • 1,000 Amen Yhai Shmei Rabbahs does equal to one word of learning Torah.

That means that one billion Baruch Hu U’voruch Shmos doesn’t equal to one word of learning Torah. Remember, it was worthwhile for Hashem to create the world for 6,000 years just for one Jew to respond Baruch Hu U’voruch Shmo. We see the unbelievable reward one receives for learning Torah.

“Can you cash this check for me?”

“Let me see the amount,” replied the bank teller. When he saw the sum written on the check and the signature below, his eyes lit up in amazement`. “I am sorry sir, but I will have to consult the bank manager about cashing such a large check.” The bank manager looked at the check and replied, “There is not enough money in this bank or in all the local banks put together to cash this check. Since the king himself wrote such a large check the only way you can receive payment for it is to travel to the capital and ask for cash at the royal treasury.

Every mitzvah that we do is so precious, that its true value can only be paid in Hashem’s capital, in the World to Come. The reward for just a single word of learning Torah is even greater and more precious than we can imagine. (A moshel of the Chofetz Chaim recorded in the book Give us Life by Mendel Weinbach)

The Torah tells us that if we toil in learning Torah and fulfill the mitzvos we will receive many blessings. We will have rain in abundance and at the right times. The land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will yield their fruit. We will be so prosperous that we will be so busy with our wheat and grapes. We will feel full from eating, we will dwell securely in our land, and we will have peace. Many more blessings are listed. What extensive blessings for learning Torah and performing mitzvos!

Yet, many commentaries question why the Torah lists so many physical blessings without mentioning the ultimate reward one receives. The reward for learning Torah and doing mitzvos can’t possibly be given to us in this world; the reward is so great that we can only receive it properly in the World to Come.

Rav Moshe Alshich answers, of course it is impossible to be rewarded in this world for our Torah learning and mitzvah performance. The Torah is listing the reward that Hashem will give us as a “gift”, without taking away anything from our ultimate reward. If we perform the mitzvos sincerely, and not only for their great reward, then these numerous physical blessings will be given to us as a bonus.

So many special rewards are just a bonus. Imagine the great reward we will receive in the World to Come for learning Torah and performing the mitzvos.