Tzedaka Was Suspended In The Midbar “Simlascha Lo Balsa MeiAlecha; Your clothing did not wear out in forty years.” (Eikev 8:4) If Bnei Yisrael had everything they needed in the Midbar including food, shelter, and clothing how were they able to do the Mitzva of Tzedaka in the Midbar?
Rav Shimshon Pincus answers that in truth they could not do this mitzva. Why? “Tzedaka Tatzil MiMaves; If there is a decree on someone that he must die, giving tzedaka can abolish the gezeira.” Hashem was Gozer in the Midbar that the entire generation would die. Had there been the possibility of tzedaka it could have altered the plans, which was not the way Hashem wanted it. Therefore, Hashem made it impossible to give tzedaka, and the decree was carried unimpeded.
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Olive Oil And Honey “Eretz Zais Shem U’Dvash; (8:8) A land of olive oil and honey.” The pasuk lists the seven minim of grains and fruits that grow in Eretz Yisrael and breaks them into two groups. Olive oil and honey are listed alone after the pasuk repeats the word “Eretz” once again. Why?
The Meshech Chochma answers that all the other minim were found in Mitzrayim. Only these two did not exist there. When they asked Moshe why he took them out of Mitzrayim to a barren wilderness they complained that there were no figs, grapes, and pomegranates. Olive oil and honey were not mentioned because they didn’t have them in Mitzrayim either. They are written separate from the other minim under the word Eretz because they are more important since they are unique to Eretz Yisrael.
This also explains the Gemara that says the importance of the minim are based on their positioning in the pasuk. You are required to make a bracha first on the minim closer to the word Eretz since they are more important.
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The Mitzvos Of The Heel Rashi famously comments on the words, “Eikev Tishmi’un; If you keep the mitzvos that a person tramples with his heel.” This refers to the seemingly trivial less important mitzvos that we think are not really worth our time or effort. Only when we keep these mitzvos as well, is it a sign of true dedication to the mitzvos and to our Father above whose commandments we heed whether big or small.
The Sfas Emes further illuminates this saying that the Remach or 248 Mitzvos Aseh each correspond to one of our 248 limbs, Doing these mitzvos gives life to its corresponding limb in this world and the next. In our body we have a head and heart which are surely very important above all the others. And just like the body has a heel, while although trivial, if it lacks strength, the entire body collapses, head, heart and all, similarly if we ignore the trivial mitzvos, all our hard work and devotion on the big ones will be for naught as the entire structure will collapse.
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Why 100 Brachos Are Key To Tshuva ;And now Yisrael what does Hashem ask of you other than to fear him (Eikev 10:12). The Gemara (Minachos 43b) says that we learn from this pasuk that there is a mitzva to make 100 brachos every day. The word מָה says the Gemara can be read as Mei’a or 100. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh in Parshas Ki Seitzei (22:13) says that the word וְעַתָּה is a lashon of Tshuva. What is the connection between 100 brachos and Tshuva? For someone who has sinned isn’t there a list of higher priority thing to do to repent?
Rav Moshe Shternbuch answers that the reason we learn 100 brachos from this pasuk that demands from every Jew Yiras Shamayim above all, is that the best way to learn to fear Hashem is to get close to him through Brachos. Brachos are said in awe and trepidation of the Master of the Universe who owes us nothing, yet magnanimously gives us everything we have. Without Him we have absolutely nothing, not even ourselves.
Making a serious Bracha 100 times a day will surely effect you after a few days or less. What can be more important for someone who has sinned and needs to appreciate the Chutzpa of biting the hand that feeds him, especially when it is the hand of the Almighty Hashem?
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The Beginning Of The Big Year “Einei Hashem Elokecho Bah MeiReishis Hashana Ad Acharis Shanah; The eyes of Hashem are always upon it, from the beginning of the year until year’s end.” (11:12) The Satmar Rebbi, Zt”l, asks, “Why does the pasuk say by Raishis – ‘Hashana’, but by ‘Acharis’ it only says, ‘Shanah’?”
He answers, that the nature of people is that in the beginning of a new year, when people are in the Tshuva mode, they say, “This year I will be better. This year I will give more Tzedoka, I will watch my anger, and learn more Torah. This will be THE year!” But when the year passes and he didn’t fulfill any of his “New Year Resolutions”, he sees that the year, which he thought would be THE year, turned out to be “just another year”. The pasuk says, by “Raishis Hashana” – in the beginning he thinks this year will be Hashana – the year, but at the end it’s only “Acharis Shanah” – just another year.
We say in the Kedusha of Mussaf, “Hain Goaltie Eschem Acharis KiRaishis; When will I redeem you?” says Hashem, “when ‘Acharis KiRaishis’ – the end of the year will be like the beginning.” When all the promises and resolutions that one makes before Rosh Hashana, will still be in place at the end of the year, that is when the Geula will come!
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No Work, The Test Of The Mun The Pasuk says that the Mun fell from Shamayim every day, “Lmaan Nasoisecha; In order to test (8:16).” What is the big test in receiving your sustenance every day straight from Shamayim?
MiSHulchan Govo’a brings from Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Rabinowitz the answer with the Mishna in Sanhedrin (71b) that says, “Tranquility for Reshaim is bad for them and bad for the world. Tranquility for Tzadikim is good for them and good for the world.” Rashi explains that when Tzadikim have time on their hands, they will learn Torah and perform mitzvos. This will be very productive for both them and the world. When Reshaim have too much time on their hands, watch out! They will use their time to destroy the world.. That was the test of the Mun

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