פרשת צו
Parshas Tzav continues to expound on the different korbanos and their laws as we are introduced to a very important korban called the Toda, the “Thank you” offering. Rashi explains that the Toda had to be brought by anyone who went overseas, travelled through the wilderness, was let out of jail, or had been healed from a near-death illness. The major concept behind the Toda offering is that an individual who has merited a personal salvation should properly express thanks to Hashem for having taken him out of danger and distress. The Netziv adds that the Toda was also accompanied with 40 halos, a large quantity of food, in order that the baal haness should invite others to partake in the seudas hodaa along with him to upkeep the verse “And they shall exalt Him (in thanks) in a community of people” (Tehillim 107). In the Torah we find that the principle of giving thanks is extremely central. The Ramban at the end of Parshas Bo says that the entire purpose of creation was that man should believe in Hashem and thank Him. The Sfas Emes adds that the Hebrew word for Jew, “Yehudi”, actually means “one who thanks”. A Jew is really supposed to personify the idea that a human being was created to give thanks to Hashem. That’s why the korban Toda isn’t a voluntary offering. It’s actually an obligation because thanking is so essential to a Jew’s essence and how he is expected to respond to the miracles Hashem does for him. So what’s the big deal about the Toda offering and why is giving thanks understood to be so important in the Torah’s eyes that it actually can be called Hashem’s intent behind all creation?
Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach observes that being able to appreciate Hashem’s hand in our lives is one of the most elusive abilities for mankind. People often attribute even miracles to be products of nature or to their own doing. When one is sick and goes to the doctor, it’s very easy to go home thinking that it was the miracle of modern medicine that cured him. To be able to attribute thanks where it truly belongs takes great maturity, devotion, and reflecting. And most of the time, this isn’t even enough. However, through the Toda offering, the Torah expects us to capitalize on our miracles and to whole-heartedly express our appreciation. By articulating our gratitude, we can be aroused to a greater and deeper recognition that Hashem is in control of our lives. Hodaa, which means thanks in Hebrew, also means to admit. In truth, when one thanks Hashem, he is really just choosing to admit to the fact that he is a gross beneficiary in the scheme of the Divine. By taking our life experiences and relating them back to G-d, we are deepening our recognition that it is Hashem who helps us and saves us. Through thanking, we recognize Hashem and build the belief we have in Him. And this is what the entire world was created for.
Furthermore, not only can giving thanks help engrain a true sense of emuna inside one’s self, it can also bring about a greater love of Hashem as well. The Maharal comments on the gemara in Brachos 54 that when someone is truly in love and desires strongly to make his love known, he showers the object of his affection with all kinds of praises. By expressing our gratitude to Hashem, we are emulating the behavior of one truly in love with G-d. Also, each time we thank Hashem actually helps us strengthen our love and creates a special place in our heart for G-d as we go on through life. By acting like a lover, in other words thanking Hashem, we are making ourselves into people that can love Hashem with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might.
However, even though the Toda was only obligatory when a miracle happened, the obligation of thanking itself is almost endless. In fact, the Ramban says that a person’s main avoda is to appreciate even the small miracles that are with us every day. The miracles of waking up in the morning, being able to see, being able to walk, having food to eat, etc. Things we take for granted are constantly being supervised and Hashem is always on the watch to make sure everything functions properly. The Ramban even says that the only reason why Hashem even made the phenomena of “open miracles” was in order that a person should reflect and realize that even the small things that happen every day are also special gifts from Hashem and are no less significant. The Sfas Emes said in his Shabbos HaGadol drash that the importance of recognizing and appreciating the small things in life is so tremendous that a person can even be sent troubles because he does not sufficiently acknowledge the kindnesses Hashem showers upon him constantly. Once a person realizes what a feeble being he is and that existence itself would be untenable without Hashem caring for him, he can again appreciate the gifts of life and be awakened to the reality that G-d is constantly watching over him.
I remember I once went with a friend to meet with a big mekubal. My friend was greatly distressed over many hardships that he had been struggling with for years. He asked the mekubal if there was anything he could do that would alleviate the pain he was going through. The mekubal gently replied to my friend that he should really be happy for all the good that Hashem had given him in life. To be able to learn, to be able to teach, to have a family, to be in good health, and to be able to have parnassa are incredible brachos that others aren’t always privileged to. “You’re only missing one thing,” said the mekubal, “gratitude to HaKadosh Baruch Hoo. You especially should be thanking Hashem very much!”
Rav Pinchas Scheinberg z”l was very known to have powerful t’fillos. Many people would seek his brachos and they were known to have affected a great number of people. At his yeshiva, Yeshivas Torah Ore, he would daven as shaliach tzibbur every day for every t’filla. Those who heard him daven were deeply moved by the sincerity behind his t’fillos and were inspired to emulate his cavana in davening. After Rav Scheinberg passed away, his personal siddur was found, its pages worn away by the great number of tears that he shed over it. But what was especially notable was that most of the tears shed over the siddur were found at modim. For Rav Scheinberg,the gratitude he had for Hashem brought him more tears than any other pain or desire he had in the world.
May we all be zoche to give thanks to Hashem for every precious day in our lives!!!