Login  

Register  

Parshas Ki Seitzei: Mitzvos Benefit US

By Moishy Pruzansky

Posted on 09/12/19

Parshas HaShavua Divrei Torah sponsored by
Dr. Shapsy Tajerstein, DPM - Podiatry Care.
(410) 788-6633

In this week’s parshah, we are told about the prohibition of taking an ownerless mother bird when it is sitting on its eggs or young (22:6). Directly after that, the Torah relays the commandment to build a protective fence on the roof of one’s home. Immediately following this, the Torah forbids a Jew from crossbreeding two different species of produce in one’s field or allowing two different species of animal to pull one plow at the same time. After that, the Torah discusses the commandment to tie tzitzis to any four cornered garment. 




We know that there is significance and a connection when one mitzvah in the Torah is placed next to another (this is often expounded on in Gemara regularly). What then can possibly be the connection between sending away a mother bird, building a protective fence on one’s roof, not crossbreeding two different species of produce in one’s field, not allowing two different species of animal to pull one plow at the same time and tzitzis???




The mitzvos are our treasures. Each one provides indescribable benefits. In This World, we usually don't see these benefits openly. However, sometimes Hashem does show us how adhering to a certain mitzvah provides protection and blessings. 


 


There was a man named Sam Zeitlin, whose nickname was "Brooklyn Lightening," because of the speeds he reached racing his bicycle. From the time his father bought him his first bike on his fifth birthday, Sam dreamed of racing in the Olympics. As he grew older, he practiced day and night. He entered competitions in the New York metropolitan area and won race after race. Scouts took notice of his talents and he was asked to join the New York cycling team. By the time the Olympic trials took place in 1967, he had been practicing for many hours every day, building his stamina. He rode his bike through all weather conditions, with the hope of winning an Olympic gold medal. At the Olympic tryouts, he sped through the finish line 50 feet ahead of the competition. However, the judges disqualified him from the race, because he raised his arms in victory a fraction of a second before crossing the finish line. Sam was rejected from the Olympic team. He was crushed. 


 


A few days later, while riding his bike, a car sped towards him. He swerved onto the sidewalk and barely avoided a head-on collision. The car window opened, and he saw some of his rival cyclists from the try-outs. They told him, "We'll get you next time, Jew". Sam felt that he would never be successful in the U.S.A as a cyclist due to Anti-Semitism and concluded that this was part of the reason he was disqualified from his win. At that moment, Sam decided that nothing would prevent him from following his dream. He moved to Israel, with the hope of winning a gold medal for them in the 1972 Olympics. He joined the sports club there and his skills quickly became known. He designed a rigorous cycling routine for Israeli athletes to join him in creating a cycling team, and under his tutelage, his vision of sending an Israeli cycling team to the Olympics began to take form. 


 


At that time, Sam had a basic knowledge of Judaism, but was not religious. Once, while visiting the Kosel, he noticed two boys praying with heartfelt emotion. Afterwards, he had a conversation with them and was very impressed by their spiritual ideals. Sam used to ride his bike all over Israel. One day, he rode to Benei Brak and went in to a Yeshiva to see what it looked like. He saw hundreds of students debating over sacred texts. Again, he was very impressed. Rabbi Gershon Rabinowitz came over and introduced himself to Sam. He invited him to spend Shabbos in his house. Sam agreed and loved the experience. He came back on a weekly basis. Shabbos became the highlight of his week. The Rabbi introduced him to Torah thoughts and Shabbos songs. Eventually, Sam became much more observant. 


 


Sam felt guilty about training on Shabbos, but how could he stop now? Saturday was the designated day for practice and tryouts in Israel. He went to the Israeli Sports Federation, explaining his dilemma, but they were unmoved. He pleaded with them, saying that he was their only hope of winning a gold medal. They responded, "Practices and tryouts will only be held on Saturday. No exceptions".




Sam had spent his entire life preparing for the upcoming tryouts for the 1972 Olympics, which were scheduled to take place in Munich, Germany. After serious deliberation, however, he made the difficult decision not to violate Shabbos, even if it meant giving up his dream. That year, without Sam, there was no Israeli cycling team. Tragically, on the tenth day of the Olympics, the Black September terror group burst into the Israeli sleeping quarters and brutally murdered all eleven athletes. Klal Yisrael mourned a terrible tragedy, but Baruch Hashem, Sam and his entire cycling team were saved from that attack. Adhering to Shabbos provided protection for Sam and his friends. Sam went on to marry the daughter of a Rabbi and built a beautiful family. 


 


We can never comprehend the power of even one mitzvah. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to observe all of the mitzvos, as they truly protect and benefit us even in This World, how much more so in the world to come (related by R’ Ashear).




Rashi (22:8) explains that when one performs a mitzvah, Hashem usually gives that person more blessings even in This World in order to be utilized to accomplish even more mitzvos. Once that person demonstrates that he truly understand this purpose of Hashem’s blessings, by going ahead and using it to accomplish more mitzvos, Hashem provides him with even more blessing. Rashi illustrates this message within our parshah: when someone sends away a mother bird, Hashem will reward him with a house so he can accomplish another mitzvah, namely, building a protective fence on the roof. If the person goes ahead and builds the protective fence, Hashem will provide him with a field in order to enable him to observe the mitzvos that one can only accomplish if they own a field; namely, not planting two different types of produce together. If one does that, Hashem will bless him animals so that he can be careful not to let them plow together. If he uses those animals properly, Hashem will provide him with nice clothing in order to afford him the ability to do yet another mitzvah: tzitzis. The cycle goes on and on. Blessing is an opportunity to accomplish more and more mitzvos. If we use them to accomplish such, Hashem will often reward us with more blessings and the opportunity to accomplish even more mitzvos. How lucky are we!




Living Inspired




As illustrated in this week’s parshah, although Chazal tell us that the principle reward for Mitzvos are in the Next World, the Ohr Hachaim writes (Shemos 20:12) that the Mitzvos contain within them wondrous benefits that help us even in This World, as well. Some Mitzvos bring wealth; others bring health. The blessings that we already have in our lives are due, in-part, to previous blessings that we successfully utilized to serve Hashem by performing mitzvos. Often, when one continues to do so, those blessings will be renewed each day and sometimes even more will be added on.




In short, although we don’t always get to see it openly (if we always did, there would be no free choice), Mitzvos benefit US and are precious commodities that earn tremendous blessing. May we utilize all of the times that we merit to openly see the blessed results from our mitzvos, to internalize that all the other times they are bringing us blessings as well.