Eikev

The passuk states, “מה ה’ אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ה’ אלקיך, what does Hashem ask from you – Bnei Yisrael – only to fear Hashem your G-d.” The Gemara wonders, is yirah something small that the Torah states about it “כי אם ליראה, all Hashem asks is to fear Him”? The Gemara writes, yes, for Moshe yirah is a small thing.

The Meforshim are bothered: this passuk was actually said by Moshe to Bnei Yisrael. If so, what does it help that for Moshe it is a small thing, since for everyone else it is a hard and difficult thing?

Rav Shternbach answers that Moshe thought it was an easy thing for a Yid to recognize and fear Hashem, for Hashem is so great, so of course we all should fear Him!

Rav Shternbach brings another answer in the name of R’ Yitzchak from Volozhin. In truth, Moshe knew that one needs to put in a lot of effort and hard work to reach the level of yirah.  However, because of his anivus, Moshe thought that Bnei Yisreal were also able to reach such great heights, just as he himself was. Moshe felt that everyone else was as great as he was, so if he could reach yirah surely others could too.

The Dubna Maggid quotes the Gra who writes that Moshe was saying, if you are zoche to be amongst chachamim and tzadikim it is much easier to become similar to them and to learn from them. This is comparable to pouring liquid into a cup that overflows and spills over. A tzadik is able to create shefa, inspiration and growth which can help others to grow in their own personal avodas Hashem. Moshe was telling Bnei Yisrael, you can be helped without too much work, by being close to tzadikim and becoming influenced from their hashpaah.

May we be zoche to be amongst people who can influence us and assist us in our avodas Hashem