FEAR IS POSITIVE
However, Moshe goes on to say that “perhaps among you there is a man or woman … whose heart turns away from being with Hashem… and when he hears these curses … he’ll say ‘peace will be with me, even though I follow my heart’s desires’ … Hashem will not be willing to forgive him… and all the curses of this Book will come upon him, and Hashem will erase his name from under heaven” (Devarim 29:17-19).
Whom is Moshe addressing? The entire nation had just heard the curses, and all were terrified. How could Moshe think that there would still be someone who thought he could do whatever he wants and think nothing would happen? Who would be crazy enough to think that?
Harav Chaim Friedlander answers that indeed, there is a person who is capable of this. Any person who is in the throes of a taava (a strong desire) thinks this way. The desire is so powerful that it pushes any healthy sense of fear out of his mind. In normal circumstances, he would be afraid to sin, but in the throes of taava he forgets all other concerns, as terrifying as they may be.
Moshe makes clear that such a person is making a grave error. For such behavior Hashem will apply all of these curses upon him. Moreover, He will punish even unintentional sins as if he had done them deliberately (Devarim, Rashi 29:18). Lastly, the sinner’s name will be erased from the world.
This seems unusually harsh. Can’t the sinner claim: I forgot myself at that moment! I wasn’t thinking straight! Am I so terrible?
Moshe’s admonition to this sinner is that allowing taava to push Hashem out of one’s mind is a severe form of rebellion against Him!
Rav Friedlander notes that just as taava pushes away one’s yiras Shamayim, the reverse is also true. Yiras Shamayim distances taava. Therefore, one should always try to increase his yiras Shamayim, to keep taava further away from him. As often as possible, one should think or even say to himself: “This world is not hefker. There’s no question that everyone is held responsible for his misbehavior and punished for it, either in this world or the next.” This mode of thinking develops one’s yiras Shamayim.
Rav Yechezkel Levinstein would note that Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are known as the Yamim Hanora’im, literally the “Days that are feared.” The Rambam (Commentary to the Mishna, Rosh Hashana 4:7) writes that these are days when a Jew must fear Hashem’s judgment and prepare himself for this by doing teshuva.
Therefore, Rav Levinstein would urge people during this time: Hashem gave us these days to know that we’re about to be judged and do teshuva. He is demanding from us that we fear him. If even now, during these unique days a person does not do so, he is certainly guilty of ‘following his heart’s desires’ and ignoring Hashem.
“I hesitate to say it,” Rav Levinstein would warn, “but such a person may incur for himself the punishments Moshe Rabbeinu mentioned in Parshas Nitazvim, chalila. Hashem may not want to forgive such a person, because even now, with the specter of judgment looming just before him, he nevertheless feels nothing and goes along on his merry way. Of course, he keeps the mitzvos, but what about fear of Hashem? Why is he behaving as if he does not have to do teshuva? What is this person’s problem?” Rav Levinstein would ask.
Rav Yisrael Salanter states similarly (Ohr Yisrael 7): “Don’t we see that every year, there are people, even young, healthy people who do not make it to the end of the year. How can we not be afraid? At least some feeling should register!”
Rav Levinstein found this idea in the Gemara’s account (Brachos 28b) of the end of Raban Yochanan ben Zakai’s life. It states that as he was lying ill in bed, his talmidim came to visit him, and when he saw them, he cried. His talmidim asked why he was crying, as he surely could expect great reward in the World to Come. He replied that if he were about to face a human judge, who could only sentence him to punishment in this world, wouldn’t he be afraid? All the more so he fears that he will soon be standing in trial before Hashem, whose punishment is for eternity!
Rav Levinstein commented: “It seems from the account that Raban Yochanan ben Zakai was not crying before his talmidim came, so why did he cry now? Just to show off his piety?
“Rather, Raban Yochanan ben Zakai intended to teach his talmidim. We have to imagine that we are facing an actual trial. Let’s say we were summoned before a human judge who had power to punish us. How fearful would we be? Whatever fear we would have is the minimum fear we should feel when standing before Hashem. Each of us should check himself: Are we at least as afraid of Rosh Hashana as we are about being on trial before human judge?”
Those who knew Rav Shach testify that he lived with such fear throughout the year. As he went through his day, he thought to himself (and at times even asked aloud): “Will I be able to explain why I did this when I stand before the Heavenly Court?” Particularly in Elul and the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, his sense of fear was palpable. “How can I stand before Hashem in judgment?” he seemed to ask.
Once, during Elul, Rav Shach’s grandson, R’ Isser Zalman Bergman, told him that one of his son’s was becoming bar mitzvah very soon, and a reception would be held in a few days.
“A celebration now? During Elul? How can I go to a celebration during these days?” asked Rav Shach. “Could you postpone it until after the Yamim Hanoraim?”
May we fear Hashem year-round, and particularly in Elul!
Exciting news! Rabbi Krieger will soon be publishing a sefer featuring the “best” of the weekly Parsha sheet. If you would like to share in this celebration, please go to www.bircas.org for further details.