top of page
Daily Chizuk #1489
Weekly Parasha
Story of Our Lives: Effort vs Divine Action
Parashat Toledot: The Reward is Unimaginable
In this week's parasha, Toledot, we are introduced to the wicked ways of Esav harasha. Yet although he was so wicked, he merited to rule over our people throughout history until that great day of ועלו מושיעים בהר ציון לשפוט את הר עשיו. What did he do to merit all of his blessings? The mitzvah of kibbud av v'em. And although he did excel in many aspects of this mitzvah, he was far from perfect in it, as can be seen explicitly in the pesukim. Furthermore, he was only careful with kibbud av and not kibbud em, as the Rambam explains. Yet, with all of his rishut and all of his deficiencies, he was still rewarded for generations in the merit of this one mitzvah. How much more so will the reward be for even the simplest Jew trying his best to serve Hashem, doing dozens and even hundreds of mitzvot every single day. Of course, we know the real reward for mitzvot is paid in the Next World, while here we only receive their dividends. Every single effort we make is appreciated by Hashem.
Our mitzvot are wondrous. The rewards for them are unimaginable and the kedusha that we bring about through their performance is great.
In this week's parasha, Toledot, we are introduced to the wicked ways of Esav harasha. Yet although he was so wicked, he merited to rule over our people throughout history until that great day of ועלו מושיעים בהר ציון לשפוט את הר עשיו. What did he do to merit all of his blessings? The mitzvah of kibbud av v'em. And although he did excel in many aspects of this mitzvah, he was far from perfect in it, as can be seen explicitly in the pesukim. Furthermore, he was only careful with kibbud av and not kibbud em, as the Rambam explains. Yet, with all of his rishut and all of his deficiencies, he was still rewarded for generations in the merit of this one mitzvah. How much more so will the reward be for even the simplest Jew trying his best to serve Hashem, doing dozens and even hundreds of mitzvot every single day. Of course, we know the real reward for mitzvot is paid in the Next World, while here we only receive their dividends. Every single effort we make is appreciated by Hashem.
Our mitzvot are wondrous. The rewards for them are unimaginable and the kedusha that we bring about through their performance is great.
bottom of page