The Daily Chizzuk of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a – Sunday, 18 Shevat, 5784
Moshe Rabbeinu only searches for [a way] to flee [from leading the people, because of his humility]. He doesn’t ask what the position is; he immediately says, “Send through whomever You will send.”
He is unwilling. He says to Hashem: Send Eliyahu HaNavi, send Aharon, send Miriam, Chur. [Hashem says to him:] No! Only you [will go].
[Moshe continues to ask:] Is there no one else? Suddenly, he sees that there is someone else. Moshe succeeds in proving that there is someone else. “Why do You say that there is no one else? Behold, I discovered [someone] in heaven!”
A minute before Moshe receives the Tablets; in another minute, he receives the Tablets. He received the Tablets on the 17th – a minute before the receiving of the Tablets, he encounters Rabbi Akiva.
Moshe encounters Rabbi Akiva – what joy: Shalom Aleichem. Moshe says to Rabbi Akiva, “I do not understand what you are talking about [as it says about Rabbi Akiva, that he would expound upon each crownlet mounds upon mounds of laws – Menachot 29]. Then a Heavenly voice goes forth and says: “Moshe, go until after 98 rows. Be in greater humility.” Moshe needs to walk 98 rows. He heard Rabbi Akiva say, “Halachah to Moshe at Sinai.”
Moshe said, “Master of the World – I want to see the reward of Rabbi Akiva.” Then they showed him his flesh being weighed in the slaughter house. But Moshe wanted to see the reward of Rabbi Akiva, not the suffering, not the punishment. They mamash roasted Rabbi Akiva, scraped his flesh with combs of iron.
Such a man, you give the Torah through him?
The Master of the World said to Moshe, “Yes, this is the reward!”
This is what Rabbi Akiva said, “All my days, I have been pained [about the verse ‘with all your soul’ – even if they take your soul] – when will this verse come to my hand so that I may fulfill it. All my life, I have been pained: when will this verse come to my hand so that I may fulfill it. I have waited for this verse from the day I was born. From the age of forty, I am waiting for this moment that they will scrape my flesh with combs of iron.”
Moshe was taken aback. [Hashem said to him:] “Be silent. So it came to mind first.” Because those he go [e.g. die] for the sanctification of God’s Name – today, every day people are going for the sanctification of God’s Name – then, “No eye has seen it, God, other than You” (Yeshayahu 64:3).
It is written that whoever goes for the sanctification of God’s Name, no creature can comprehend his reward, his light. So he enjoys the radiance of the Shechinah (the Divine Presence). He learns Torah from the mouth of the Kadosh Baruch Hu. Even if he was secular all his life, but the moment that he goes for the sanctification of God’s Name, even if he was completely wicked, everything is forgiven for him. He learns Torah from the mouth of the Kadosh Baruch Hu.
So is this Torah and is this its reward?
The Kadosh Baruch Hu says to Moshe – Be silent! All of this is brought in [Likutey Moharan] Lesson 64. All Lesson 64 is about — “Be silent!” Anyone who goes for the sanctification of God’s Name, his reward is such that “No eye has seen it, God, other than You.” No eye has seen it. No eye is capable of seeing it.
Anyone who is killed now for the sanctification of God’s Name – every day, we here about more and more soldiers who are being killed now for the sanctification of God’s Name – then you need to say, “No eye has seen it, God, other than You!”
They merit to such a level that no creature will merit to, even at the revival of the dead!
