Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Yosef Khakshoor
In this week’s parasha, the Torah talks about the famine that was in the land of Canaan. “There was a famine in the land, and Abram descended to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.†(Perek 12, pasuk 10). The Midrash lists ten different famines throughout history, one of which is the third famine that happened during the time of Avraham Avinu. The Midrash continues to state that the last and most severe famine will precede the coming of Moshiach in the “end of the days.†The Navi describes this famine not as a hunger for food or water, but as a spiritual famine where people will be thirsty for Torah knowledge and spirituality. (Amos 8:11) One may ask if this is really a curse or a blessing? What could be more amazing than the thirst for Torah?
The Ponovezer Rav Ztl, so beautifully and profoundly answers this question. During a famine, people are willing to settle for much less than what they expect if they had plenty. Psychologically, they train their mind and body to become satiated with just a few pieces of bread, vegetables, or soup.
Unfortunately, circumstances are much the same during a spiritual famine. A two minute dvar Torah in the car constitutes a longer and deeper learning session. The quality and depth of information or the person giving over the Torah is not significant anymore. People simply settle for less just to minimally satiate themselves spiritually.
May Hashem give all of us the strength and determination to accumulate and internalize great depths of Torah and spirituality and always strive for more.