Today we will discuss a beautiful Bitachon thought on Parashat Pinhas, by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, taken from his sefer B’Kol Ram:
This week’s Parasha talks about the korbanot of the holidays. Amongst the korbanot of Succot, there is a hint in the pesukim that alludes to the Nisuch HaMayim - pouring the water, which, according to some opinions, is only on the sixth and seventh day, which falls out on Hoshana Raba.
Rav Moshe asks why Hoshana Raba is so important.
After Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when we already have a sealed decree (which we can’t change), Hoshana Raba is designated for deciding how the seal will be given over, and this is impacted by the act of pouring of the water in the Bet HaMikdash.
Why? What exactly is going on?
Rabbi Moshe explains with a beautiful thought: He asks, why do we pray every day? Why do we do anything every day, if the judgments have already been decided and you can’t change anything?
Of course, we know that you can change things. It’s hard to change a sealed agree but there are ways. Bitachon changes things.
Rav Moshe explains with an example from Tosafot which says that it’s possible foe a judgement that there will be a lot of rain in a year. But then, in the middle of the year, the Jewish people sin, so Hashem makes it that all the rain falls in the wrong places, or causes an avalanche, etc. Or, if it was decreed that a small amount of rain would fall, but the Jewish people did Teshuva, then Hashem will make sure that the rain goes exactly where it is needed.
So there is always a way to play with the existing decrees. They are basically outlined on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, but with Bitachon and good deeds, we can change things
Rav Moshe’s Hiddush is that one of the ways to make sure that the Beracha that Hashem gave us on Rosh Hashanah stays with us, is to know that everything is a מתנה חשובה
a very, special important gift.
I remember that at my bar mitzvah, I received a gift from a wealthy relative. But when I opened the box, I discovered that it was just a cheap belt, and I felt very disappointed. I had been expecting something more. That is not good Middot. We are supposed to look at every gift as if it’s an important gift. Not just the thousands of dollars that a wealthy man makes, but every, little gift that we get from Hashem is important, and we have to be thankful, and appreciate it. That is how we keep God’s blessings.
So, going back to the water libation, what is the importance pouring the water?
There is an abundance of water in the world, but nonetheless, we can’t survive without it, so we should not denigrate the importance of water (we can’t survive without oxygen either, but we are not able to pour oxygen).
Therefore, we make a big deal, and with extreme happiness, we pour these few gallons of water, in order to show our appreciation for what water is, and for of Hashem’s Hessed.
When we show that we don’t disgrace even the smallest of things, that is the source of beracha.
Rav Moshe says the opposite is true as well has v’ shalom. When a person doesn’t treat the small things with respect, that can cause things to be taken away from him, has v’shalom.
That is why, he says, that even the wealthiest of men have to say Bircat Hamazon on just one ounce of bread. Even the man with millions of dollars has to say thank you for that little piece of bread, and make a Borei Nefashot for a small glass of water.
That is the secret to keeping Hashem’s berachot.
So, yes, even if we had a great Rosh Hashanah, and a great Yom Kippur, how do we keep it going? Hoshana Raba comes along and tells us how- Appreciate the small little things. Appreciate the hesed of Hashem, and that will keep the beracha going. This is not just a lesson for Hashana Raba. This is a lesson for the entire year. This is a powerful tool. For every “little” thing, we have to recognize that there is nothing little. If your toenail is growing properly and you don’t have an ingrown toenail, or your hair grows properly, or for all the other endless gazillion details that we should be thankful for. This is always a job for us, but when ever we are looking for more beracha, this is the secret. In the words of Rav Moshe Feinstein, “To know that every single item is an important gift from God.”
Have a wonderful day and the Shabbat Shalom