The Benefits of Mesiras Nefesh

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas Hatorah (www.bircas.org)

In Parashas Vayakhel, Moshe is informed that Betzalel will construct the Mishkan. The passuk refers to him as “Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehuda.” Throughout the Chumash, only Betzalel’s grandfather is consistently mentioned in his lineage. Why?

The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, 411) explains that Chur, Betzalel’s grandfather, was killed when trying to prevent the sin of the Golden Calf. Hashem rewarded his mesiras nefesh (willingness to risk his life, but the term also refers to going beyond one’s comfort zone for Hashem’s sake) by giving us a Mishkan built by Chur’s descendant. This means that the Mishkan’s ability to effect atonement for us was in merit of Chur’s mesiras nefesh.

Similarly, the Gemara (Berachos 20a) states that mesiras nefesh directly affects Hashem’s hanhagah (His way of dealing] towards the Jews. Rav Papa asked Abaye, why did the earlier generations merit miracles while we do not? It can’t be because of their learning—in the times of Rabi Yehuda, they only learned Nezzikin (laws of damages) [in depth], whereas we learn all six orders of the Mishnah. Yet, in years of drought, all Rabi Yehuda had to do was start the proceedings for the special prayer services for times of drought, and rain immediately began pouring down, whereas no matter how much effort we put into our davening, not a drop of rain falls!

Abaye explained that the earlier generations were moser nefesh for sanctifying Hashem’s Name, whereas we are not. This is why we do not merit the special hanhagah that they did. If we would be moser nefesh, going beyond our normal abilities, Hashem would also conducts Himself toward us in an exceptional manner.

Chur went beyond his normal capabilities. Therefore, Hashem set up a miraculous mechanism called the Mishkan, capable of doing the impossible: erasing the sins of the nation.

Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman adds a new dimension to this lesson. From a human perspective, it appears that Chur’s mesiras nefesh was in vain. His efforts to prevent the sin of the Golden Calf did not succeed, and he was killed by the mob. What did he accomplish? The Midrash teaches us that Chur’s efforts were successful. Though some time passed before it became apparent, the Jewish nation received the Mishkan and its power of atonement thanks to him.

This lesson applies in our times as well. We too see people who are moser nefesh for righteous causes, yet it seems like they are getting nowhere. The lesson of Chur is that no mesiras nefesh is ever in vain. Rav Shimon Green used to tell bachurim, “Our grandparents and great-grandparents surely did some great act of mesiras nefesh. Without that merit, none of us would be here today, learning Torah in Eretz Yisrael.”

Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein points this out as well. Jews live and thrive in Eretz Yisrael amid open miracles. Our generation is not better than those that preceded us, who did not merit such a hanhagah from Hashem. Rather, Hashem has His timetable, and we are reaping the benefits of the merits accrued by previous generations through their mesiras nefesh.

Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz teaches that our mesiras nefesh may not affect us to the degree that Hashem will change the natural order of the world for us. Still, within the framework of the natural order, a person who invests all his energy merits abilities that transcend what he naturally possesses. In times of danger, an average person may suddenly be capable of lifting up a car to save a life. Similarly, a Jew who tries his hardest brings out hidden powers far beyond his natural limitations.

Once, an elderly talmid chacham came to Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer and presented him with his “final Torah thoughts.” He explained that he had recently become blind, and could no longer write. His doctors had told him that physically, he had been blind for ten years already! However, he hadn’t noticed until now.

Rav Meltzer asked him what had changed. The man answered that he had always learned Gemara with great mesiras nefesh. He maintained a very demanding, exacting level of iyun. Recently, he started taking things a bit easier, reciting gemaras without seeing them inside and not analyzing them so deeply. Once he stopped straining himself, his eyes stopped working. For ten years, his mesiras nefesh granted him the miraculous ability to see!

May we be moser nefesh for Torah and merit exceptional capabilities!

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