Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

"And they gathered themselves together against Moshe and against Aharon and said to them, you arrogate too much to yourselves..." (16,3)

Peace

On the great extent of reward for a person who runs away from a fight our Sages said – Do not call it "strife" מדון", call it "מאה דינים" – 100 measures of judgment. We learn from here that at the beginning of a fight if a person fills up his mouth with water (not to speak) he cancels a hundred measures of judgment that were against him.

Therefore, our Sages said: G-d did not find a better vessel for Israel for maintaining their blessings than peace, as it says, "G-d will give His nation strength, G-d will bless His nation with peace."  Therefore, in the Priestly blessings at the end of all the blessings they conclude with Peace – tell a person that the blessings are not worth anything unless there is peace amongst Jews.

The holy Sar Shalom of Belz alluded to the fact that peace is the source of blessings, as it says," Out of Asher his bread shall be fat... he shall yield royal dainties" "מאשר שמנה ;לחמו והוא" – the initials spell out peace "שלום". In other words, a person who wants that "his bread shall be fat" (his livelihood shall grow) should pursue peace.

The words of our Sages ob'm are well known: Peace is great for in all the travels of Israel in the wilderness it says "and they traveled... and they encamped" – they traveled amidst disputes and encamped amidst disputes. When they came before Mount Sinai they became one group as it says "And Israel encamped there" – in the singular ויחן not in the plural  -ויחנו – in total unity, like one person with one heart. And consequently, they merited to receive the holy Torah.

We must therefore remember that the future Redemption will come in the merit of peace and unity in Israel, as it says "A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children... Thus says G-d, keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears for your work shall be rewarded.... and your children shall come back again to their own border."  G-d says to Rachel that "your work shall be rewarded.... and your children shall come back again to their own border." What does it mean that her work shall be rewarded? By what right did Rachel merit to have her children come back again to their own border?

Because Rachel was quiet when Yakov sent her presents and her father Lavan did not give them to her but rather gave them to Laya. And she was quiet on her wedding night when her father Lavan switched her with Laya. And also when she gave her sister Laya the signs (she had made up with Yakov) in order not to embarrass her.

Therefore, in the merit of Rachel Imenu who grasped the trait of quietness in true self sacrifice and did not use her voice to tell Yakov about Lavan's craftiness, and was willing to give up Yakov who was so dear to her heart just not to embarrass her sister Laya – for these acts that prevented dispute and disgrace G-d said "Your work shall b e rewarded... and your children shall come back again to their own border. "Because this quietness has the power to break all iron partitions and to open the Gates of Heaven, to rise all the way up to the Heavenly Throne and redeem Israel.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!!

Mayer Sasson