VAEIRA:
DVAR TORAH -
Many sources bring down the following lesson, a Kal Vechomer that we can learn from the frogs: Just as the frogs went willingly into the ovens to fulfill H-shem’s command to spread all over Egypt, so should we willingly do the will of H-shem.
But, how can we learn out such a lesson when the frogs were specifically commanded to jump in the hot ovens and we are not specifically called upon to take such drastic measures?!
The Darkei Mussar answers that the Kal Vechomer is in fact learned in a different way:
The frogs were commanded to go EVERYWHERE and so they all went out to cover the entire land. When some of the frogs got to the kitchens and faced an oven in front of them, they dived right in! They could have said “H-Shem told us to go everywhere...Hmm that includes the ovens, but it also includes the pantry the food cupboards! – besides, someone else will get in the ovens, I don’t need to." Instead, the frogs who came first to the ovens were Mekadesh H-Shem by going into the first place that they were able to, which just happened to be the ovens. This is the great lesson from the frogs.
The practical application of this vort is, if we see someone who needs an act of Chesed and we are first on the scene with the ability to help... EVEN IF OTHERS CAN DO IT! make a Kiddush H-Shem, learn from the frogs and jump straight into the Mitzva.
STORY-
[Moshe had a severe stutter, and needed Aron to be his spokesman between him and Paraoh. When he spoke in front of G-d however, he needed no spokesman. No matter how impaired we are, orally or spiritually, nothing can hold us back from speaking directly to our Creator. He listens and understands everything, coming from anyone, fit or not.]
It is the night of Rosh Hashana, and the Jewish peasants of the town in which the holy Ba'al Shem Tov is spending Yom Tov are filing into shul for the prayer services. A little boy tugs on his father's hand and says "Tatty, i don't know how to pray, how will I be able to keep up with everybody else?" His father looks at him and replies, "My son, you are just a boy. Your job tonight is to sit silently, and only think the thoughts that in the coming years you will learn to express verbally." They continue into the main study hall and prayer begins. Having the holy Ba'al Shem in the room makes the atmosphere extremely spiritual, the longing for life and a second chance at building a relationship with the Creator palpable, yet the Ba'al Shem Tov does not seem to be on the same high as everyone else. Suddenly a loud whistle is heard. Everyone in Shul turns to see where this noise is coming from, and the origin of the sound is quickly found. The little boy is standing in the center of the shul, tears streaming down his face, whistling as loud as he can. The congregants start shushing the boy, furious that he disturbed prayers, but a voice is heard from the front of the room. "Stop!" Everybody turns to look at the great Chassidic master who begins walking toward the boy. "The whole night so far, our Tefillos were floating up to Heaven, but the gates were locked. None of our pleas were being accepted! But now that has all changed. This young boy's longing to express his love for G-d, and his frustration at not knowing how to pray caused him to do the only thing he knew how to do, whistle. That pure expression of love caused the gates to swing open. The Ba'al Shem wraps his arms around the boy and whispers in his ear, "G-d loves you."
QUOTES-
"In the morning, and in life,
is the time of ascent,
of beginning,
of getting going.
In the afternoon is the peak of our affairs
and in the evening of the day
and of life, begins the descent.
At each of these times we pray."
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."
DVAR TORAH -
Many sources bring down the following lesson, a Kal Vechomer that we can learn from the frogs: Just as the frogs went willingly into the ovens to fulfill H-shem’s command to spread all over Egypt, so should we willingly do the will of H-shem.
But, how can we learn out such a lesson when the frogs were specifically commanded to jump in the hot ovens and we are not specifically called upon to take such drastic measures?!
The Darkei Mussar answers that the Kal Vechomer is in fact learned in a different way:
The frogs were commanded to go EVERYWHERE and so they all went out to cover the entire land. When some of the frogs got to the kitchens and faced an oven in front of them, they dived right in! They could have said “H-Shem told us to go everywhere...Hmm that includes the ovens, but it also includes the pantry the food cupboards! – besides, someone else will get in the ovens, I don’t need to." Instead, the frogs who came first to the ovens were Mekadesh H-Shem by going into the first place that they were able to, which just happened to be the ovens. This is the great lesson from the frogs.
The practical application of this vort is, if we see someone who needs an act of Chesed and we are first on the scene with the ability to help... EVEN IF OTHERS CAN DO IT! make a Kiddush H-Shem, learn from the frogs and jump straight into the Mitzva.
STORY-
[Moshe had a severe stutter, and needed Aron to be his spokesman between him and Paraoh. When he spoke in front of G-d however, he needed no spokesman. No matter how impaired we are, orally or spiritually, nothing can hold us back from speaking directly to our Creator. He listens and understands everything, coming from anyone, fit or not.]
It is the night of Rosh Hashana, and the Jewish peasants of the town in which the holy Ba'al Shem Tov is spending Yom Tov are filing into shul for the prayer services. A little boy tugs on his father's hand and says "Tatty, i don't know how to pray, how will I be able to keep up with everybody else?" His father looks at him and replies, "My son, you are just a boy. Your job tonight is to sit silently, and only think the thoughts that in the coming years you will learn to express verbally." They continue into the main study hall and prayer begins. Having the holy Ba'al Shem in the room makes the atmosphere extremely spiritual, the longing for life and a second chance at building a relationship with the Creator palpable, yet the Ba'al Shem Tov does not seem to be on the same high as everyone else. Suddenly a loud whistle is heard. Everyone in Shul turns to see where this noise is coming from, and the origin of the sound is quickly found. The little boy is standing in the center of the shul, tears streaming down his face, whistling as loud as he can. The congregants start shushing the boy, furious that he disturbed prayers, but a voice is heard from the front of the room. "Stop!" Everybody turns to look at the great Chassidic master who begins walking toward the boy. "The whole night so far, our Tefillos were floating up to Heaven, but the gates were locked. None of our pleas were being accepted! But now that has all changed. This young boy's longing to express his love for G-d, and his frustration at not knowing how to pray caused him to do the only thing he knew how to do, whistle. That pure expression of love caused the gates to swing open. The Ba'al Shem wraps his arms around the boy and whispers in his ear, "G-d loves you."
QUOTES-
"In the morning, and in life,
is the time of ascent,
of beginning,
of getting going.
In the afternoon is the peak of our affairs
and in the evening of the day
and of life, begins the descent.
At each of these times we pray."
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."