By Rabbi Shlomo Zargari:
Shalom, the pasuk in this week’s parasha is very interesting. In the beginning of the parasha, (Vayikra 19,2), we are commanded to be קדושי×, to be sanctified. At the end of the parasha ( Vayikra 20,26), we are commanded to be sanctified for HaShem as well. And in between ( Vayikra 20,7) , surprise… the Torah is commanding us to make ourselves sanctified and to be sanctified!
The midrash brings a story to teach us a lesson.
The king had a very well stocked cellar of wine and he placed guards to watch it. Some of the guards were Nazirim (who don’t drink wine), and some were alcoholics (who are addicted). In the evening, he rewarded them and paid the alcoholics double.
The other guards said to the king, “Your majesty, did we not all guard together? Why would they get two portions and us one?“
The king replied, “These are addicts. They always drink wine ( they had to fight their urges so much and held themselves back from drinking). That’s why I doubled their pay!â€
In the same manner, the word “sanctified†is written only once regarding the angels in heaven who don’t have any earthly urges. Humans, on the other hand, are in the hands of their urges; their sanctification is repeated. The Midrash is teaching us that our reward is multiplied many folds!
Every time we hold ourselves back from failing in modesty, watching our eyes, and remaining sanctified, we are performing many mitzvot and the rewards are so much more. Pirkeh Avot (5,23) teaches, “The tougher it is, the greater the reward.â€
In the earlier generations, the people were like angels compared to us. The streets were much less provocative, the dress was totally covered, and people were much more restrained. There were no phones and social media… The tests were not as tough… The reward was in line with the tests. Nowadays, we are pressured from every angle, side, and corner. There’s almost no escape, so any fence we put up for ourselves and any increase in modesty of clothes and behavior we adopt will be rewarded so much more!
Shabbat Shalom