Rabbi Yekusiel Kalmenson as he shares a thought-provoking story from Parsha Matot Masei and offers profound insights into the value of commitment in life. The story starts with a successful teacher who seeks the Rebbe’s advice on whether to take on a new, challenging role as a principal in another city. The teacher is hesitant to leave his current job, but considers the safety net of being able to return to his old position if he fails. Rabbi Kalmenson responds candidly, advising the teacher that if he’s only considering the new job because of the safety net, he should stay in his current position. The key to success, according to Rabbi Kalmenson, is to truly commit to your goals and believe that failure is not an option. This mindset will ensure that you make every effort to succeed in your new role.
Rabbi Kalmenson then connects this idea to the Torah portion, which discusses the Israelite’s’ approach to war. Specifically, the Ramban explains that when laying a siege to conquer a city, the Israelite’s would only surround it from three sides, leaving a way to escape for anyone who wished to flee for their life. This approach prevented the enemy from fighting to the death out of desperation, as they always had a way out. Rabbi Kalmenson relates this to the importance of having no place for failure in our minds and no escape option to fall back on when confronting any struggle. This mindset will help us summon the strength and wherewithal to overcome challenges in life.
The Torah teaches us not only how to approach losing our life, but also how to live it fully and intensively, as if our lives depend on it. Rabbi Kalmenson’s thought-provoking insights inspire us to embrace commitment in all aspects of our lives and strive for success without reservation. Wishing you a wonderful Shabbas.
