Behar-Bechukosai

This Parsha lists the berachos and klalos that Hashem says He will give to Bnei Yisrael based on how they serve Him. One of the pesukim in the beginning of the Parsha regarding the berachos states, “ורדפו מכם חמשה מאה ומאה מכם רבבה ירדפו ונפלו אויביכם לפניכם לחרב, five from you shall chase one hundred, and one hundred will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword.”  Rashi writes that it will be the weaker ones who will chase after the enemies and not the strong ones. We see here a special nes, not only will the weak ones defeat those stronger than them, but they will even be able to defeat a greater number of people.

Rav Schwab asks: do weak people go out to war?  Do they know how to fight?  Rav Schwab explains the following: the brachos of this Parsha are preceded by the words, “בחקותי תלכו.” Rashi explains this refers to those who are “עמלים בתורה, toil in Torah.” The people who follow Hashem’s will by toiling in Torah, guarding His mitzvos, and performing them, will merit to be able to defeat a great number of opponents at war.

Rav Schwab explains that Torah is called “tushia, it weakens those who learn it.” Therefore, the ones who are fighting the battels which are the lomdei Torah, are called weak. They are the ones who have received these berachos and are thereby able to defeat their enemies.

Another question arises on this passuk, the proportions seem incorrect. If five can chase after one hundred, which his one to twenty, then to chase ten thousand, five hundred people should be necessary, not just one hundred. The passuk however states that one hundred will chase after ten thousand! Rashi writes that a small amount of people who learn the Torah cannot be compared to many people that learn the Torah. A large group that learns has a much greater zechus even proportionally. This is we explained the passuk: it is the Talmidei Chachamim who will be chasing the enemies. Therefore, one hundred Talmidei Chachamim have a lot more spiritual strength and can then defeat many more!

May we toil in the holy Torah and be zoche to the berachos which Hashem guarantees!