2020/5781

In this week's Parashah, after a famine in Israel causes Yitzchak to relocate to Gerar, we learn that he has had considerable financial success: “VaYizra Yitzchak Ba’Aretz HaHi VaYimtza BaShanah HaHi Me’ah Shearim VaYevaracheihu Hashem” - “Isaac planted in that land and found a hundredfold that same year. Hashem blessed him” (BeReishit 26:12). The Kedushat Yom Tov poses two questions on this Pasuk. First, if Yitzchak planted the crops himself, then why does the Pasuk say that “he found” them, as if he had nothing to do with their being there? And if it really was from Hashem, as found evidently at the end of the Pasuk, “Hashem blessed him,” why even bother saying that Yitzchak planted them himself?

The Kedushat Yom Tov explains that Yitzchak Avinu realized that whatever Hishtadlut he did had no relation to the result. What he discovered was a gift from Hashem. In fact, everything is a gift from Hashem; we just have to do our Hishtadlut. One can make an effort in one area and be successful in a totally different area. What one puts in and takes out are unrelated. Therefore, Yitzchak realized that any work that he may have done is completely independent of the reward that he receives. If one invests sufficient effort, in anything, there is nothing about which to worry.

The Chafetz Chayim once found a Jew crying on the side of the road. The Chafetz Chayim asked him, “What happened?” The man replied that he was a wagon driver, and that his horse had just died, along with his income. The Chafetz Chayim responded, “if you are convinced that that horse is what gave you your Parnassah, then yes, your income has died with it. But if you take a moment to understand that the horse was just a messenger of Hashem, Who already decreed how much money you will receive, then you have nothing to fear. If you understand that the horse was from Hashem, then you can also understand that Hashem can just as easily send another messenger.”

We can all apply this to our lives. Even if we are fired from our jobs or our businesses collapse, doesn't Hashem have another messenger? Therefore, when our horse dies, when something that we think is important goes wrong, why are we crying? After all, as shown to us by Yitzchak, “planting” and “finding” are two separate things entirely.