NOT JUST WHAT, BUT WHO
The single most important trait the Jew must have is hakaras hatov, appreciation, for the kindness that is bestowed on him. The Jewish people are a nation whose existence is not tied to a land but is tied to a relationship with HaShem. The cement that is used in building relationships is appreciation. Hence, both as a nation and as individuals the Jew must recognize the kindness that Ha-Shem bestows upon us as a nation and upon us as individuals and reciprocate that kindness to the best of their ability.
When one receives kindness from another, the benefactor is owed appreciation and recognition for the kindness he showed to the recipient. Based on the type and amount of kindness will determine the level of appreciation that is owed. However, there is another factor in establishing the level of appreciation and that is who the benefactor is. If the benefactor is a peer the appreciation owed him will be greater than if it is from a subordinate. And if it is from a world famous celebrity the level will increase so much more so than from a peer.
Given this insight we can taste the fineness of sentence structure that the To-rah employs in this week’s Parsha. Consider the following nuance.
Moshe delivers the Shira, the Song, to his people. This is the Shira which is to be remembered and reviewed in every generation until the end of Jewish history. The Shira tells of the history and the destiny of our people; of our rise and of our fall and of our eventual return and how HaShem will bring the ultimate justice to the world for its behavior throughout the passage of history.
The Shira is not merely the Song of our destiny but it pro-vides us the guiding light of who we are and what our mission is. It lays down the expectations HaShem has for us and what we need to do to achieve those expectations.
The Shira opens with reprimanding her people for their arrogance towards HaShem she says “To HaShem! Is this how you reciprocate, you are arrogant and foolish… He is your Father, He established you as a people…”
Take note that she does not say ” Is this how you reciprocate to HaShem…” but rather ” To HaShem, is this…” The distinction of this fine difference is on which point is the Shira scolding her people. In the latter, her point of contention lies on the kindness you received; how can you not acknowledge the wondrous kindness that you received from HaShem. Thus the basis of our appreciation rests only on the kindness that was extended.
In the former the focus is on HaShem. To HaShem! Is this the way you reciprocate?! In other words, not only did you fail to recognize the very kindness but you did not consider Who was providing that kindness. The level of reciprocation is so much higher. We have almost no possible way to reciprocate properly when the benefactor is the Creator Himself. The One Who hung the 10²⁴ stars in the heavens and the One Who pays attention to the entire world’s ecosystem and so on, He cares so much and does so much for me and for us! Therefore, our turning away from HaShem instead of turning towards Him is a sin of tremendous gravity.
As we find ourselves in the period of the year when we are focused on the Greatness of HaShem may He help us keep that awareness through Succos and on through the rest of the year.
Have a very wonderful Shabbos and beautiful Yom Tov.
Paysach Diskind