Va’eschanan
The Gemara states that Tornos Rufus questioned Rabbi Akiva, “If your G-d loves poor people why doesn’t He feed them?” Rabbi Akiva answered, “To enable other people to help them and be saved from the judgment of Gehinnom.” Tornos Rufus asked, “It should be completely the opposite. I’ll give you a mashal: A king got upset at his slave and put him in prison. He commanded not to give the slave food or drink. Some person went on his own, without permission, and fed the slave and gave him to drink. When the king hears about this he will definitely be upset. So too, is with Bnei Yisrael, who are called ‘servants,’ as it states, ‘כי לי בני ישראל עבדים!’”
Rabbi Akiva responded and said, “I’ll give you a mashal: A king got upset at his son and put him in prison. He commanded not to give him food or drink. Some person went and fed the son and gave him to drink. When the king hears about this, will he not send him a present out of appreciation!? So too, Klal Yisrael are called ‘sons,’ as it states, ‘בנים אתם לה’ אלקיכם.’” Tornus Rufus denied this by retorting, “Only when the people of Yisrael fulfill the ratzon of Hashem are they called “בנים” but not now!”
The Gemara writes, when Bnei Yisrael enter Shuls and Batei Midrashim and recite the words, “יהא שמיה רבה…” Hashem shakes His head and says, “Fortunate is the King that is praised in His home.” Rashi explains the “home” refers to the Bais HaMikdash. Woe is to the Father that sent His children away into galus, and woe is to the children who went into galus for the sake of their Father!” We see that Hashem can be referred to in two ways: as a King or as a Father. Also, we too, are referred to in two ways: as servants or as children of Hashem. When the Bais HaMikdash stood and we all saw the greatness of Hashem, then Hashem is referred to as a King. We recognized Hashem’s complete rule over nature and the entire creation. However, when the Bais HaMikdash is destroyed, Hashem is referred to as a Father. A father is one who loves his children although they might act improperly and he needs to send them away. So too, Hashem loves His children although they were sent into galus. The Gemara states, even if we chas v’shalom do bad actions such as worship avodah zarah, we are still called the children of Hashem, as it states “בנים משחיתים.” HaRav Pinchas Green pointed out, from here we see that Tornus Rufus was wrong and is refuted; even now in galus we are the children of Hashem!
May Hashem rebuild the Bais HaMikdash and return Klal Yisrael to His special home!
