Naso 5783

 B"H


In Shaare Kedusha, R Hayim Vital warns us about kabbala maasit.  He mentions severe judgments which occurred because of those who engaged in kabbala maasit.  This week's sidra has a similar instance.

Parashat Naso says the woman accused of being a sota has the guarantee of having children if she is vindicated.  This seems like a quick and easy segula.  However, to do so she must risk her life and test having a terrible fate in the case that she behaved improperly.  Of course in the case she has not committed adultery this is no problem.  Furthermore, even if she has committed adultery, but her husband has as well the sota ritual is ineffective; she neither dies nor merits the segula.  Additionally, even if she has some merit to buy time so that she does not die immediately sota ultimately results in the death of the guilty parties in a case of actual adultery.

Likewise, we cannot be so certain to test ourselves by other instances of kabbala maasit.  In the case that one is less than perfectly deserving kabbala maasit is harmful to the individual rather than a segula.  Therefore, our responsibility is to perform mitsvot rather than to try to chase the reward for mitsvot.

Once the Lubavitcher Rebbe went outside on Motsae Shabbat to recite birkat levana.  He had a habit of blessing children who held the door for him, and children would often compete to race to the door for a blessing.  In this instance a child had rushed to stand in the door for the full duration of the Rebbe's recitation of birkat levana.  With his strong faith in the righteousness of the tsadik he was determined to get this blessing when the Rebbe returned inside.  When the Rebbe walked inside he asked, "Did you recite birkat levana?"  The child was stunned; of course he could not claim to have done so, as everyone saw him instead stand at the door ever since Arvit.  The Rebbe said, "Go say the berakha, and after that come see me for what you want."  In this instance the Rebbe taught a valuable lesson to pursue mitsvot rather than segulot.  

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