Calling Out in the Name of Hashem

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

In Parshas Toldos, Hashem promises Yitzchak Avinu Eretz Yisrael, and that he will have many descendants. Hashem concludes that He is giving Yitzchak these blessings “because Avraham hearkened to My voice and kept My commandments…” (Bereishis 26:3-5)

The Seforno asks, when Hashem blessed Avraham and Yaakov Avinu, He blessed them on their own, without mentioning the merit of anyone else. Why didn’t Hashem bless Yitzchak in this way, too? Why is he only blessed in the merit of his father, Avraham?

The Seforno answers that Avraham Avinu engaged in “calling out in the name of Hashem” (ibid 12:8, 21:33). He sought ways to bring people to belief in the One G-d, even building a hotel in order to lavish hospitality on wayfarers and introduce them to this belief (Sotah 10b). Yaakov Avinu as well was immersed in learning in the yeshiva of Shem and Eiver, where all who sought Hashem would go. Yaakov Avinu surely helped these people and brought them closer to Hashem, explains the Seforno. By contrast, Yitzchak Avinu was working intensely to perfect his own avodas Hashem, and was not so involved in bringing others closer to Him. Therefore, he needed the merit of Avraham Avinu. Indeed, later (ibid. 26:25), the verse states that Yitzchak did call out in the name of Hashem, and became very successful as a result, so much so that Avimelech, king of the Plishtim, came to him and declared openly: “We see that Hashem is with you” (ibid. 26-28).

Still, why didn’t Yitzchak Avinu merit such a bracha in his own right, even without calling out in the name of Hashem? Didn’t he have tremendous merits? Yitzchak had been willing to give his life for Hashem at the akeida. He had perfected his avodas Hashem to such a level that Hashem commanded him not to leave Eretz Yisrael—a command unique only to him among the Avos (ibid. Rashi 26:2). Wasn’t that enough? Why did Hashem bless him only because of his father, Avraham?

Rav Brodiansky cites the Chovos Halevavos (Shaar Ahavas Hashem 6) that one who serves Hashem on his own, even though he can reach a spiritual level close to an angel, still, he only earns his own merits, whereas one who brings other people closer to Hashem earns their merits, too. As great as an individual may be, his merits alone cannot compare to that of one who has hundreds or thousands of merits of others as well.

Rabbeinu Yonah (Shaarei Teshuva 3:19) adds to this that if one cares about another and tries to be mekarev him (bring him closer to Hashem), the one doing the kiruv becomes perfected as well. This shows that he is a faithful servant of his master. If a worker cares only about getting his own job done, that shows that he cares about himself. If, however, he makes efforts to ensure that everyone does their job, too, this shows that he cares about his boss. So too in ruchniyus, if a Jew truly seeks perfection in service of Hashem, he will want others to achieve this perfection as well.

What does this mean for us? That we should all go out and do kiruv? The gedolim don’t call upon us to do this, but rather to build ourselves up in ruchniyus first. Furthermore, it is known that if a talmid sets out to do kiruv too early, he may have success, but he is in great risk of falling spiritually himself. Is the merit of “calling out in the name of Hashem” something that we can reach?

We see from Yaakov Avinu that he did not go out to teach emuna to others, as did Avraham. Yaakov brought people closer to Hashem within the confines of the beis medrash. We too can do this, as we can always find someone who can benefit from our help. Whether it’s helping in emuna and yiras Shamayim or Gemara – all of this is “calling out in the name of Hashem.” In Sanhedrin (99b), the sages state that one who teaches his fellow man Torah is as if he created that person. In Bava Metzia (85a), it states that when one teaches the son of an am haaretz Torah, if harmful decrees were issued against him, they will be annulled.

Rav Aharon Kotler would note that there are many ways to bring others closer to Hashem within the beis medrash. Give words of encouragement, challenge people with an engaging questions, offer to learn with someone b’chavrusa–particularly in times when there is less learning there.

There is another way to merit the blessing that goes to those who call out in the name of Hashem: Try to behave at all times in a way that reflects positively on the Torah. When a Jew acts in a pleasant and proper way with others, the positive impression that this creates has immeasurable power. We never know how much of an effect our actions can make, but often we hear of how the good behavior of an observant Jew was what caused another Jew to reassess his outlook on Torah (see Bava Metzia 86a).

We see the impression that just one act can have from Rav Shimon ben Shetach, who once purchased a donkey from a non-Jew and later discovered a precious stone in the donkey’s saddle pouch.

He returned the stone to the non-Jew, explaining: “I purchased I donkey; I did not purchase a precious stone. This belongs to you.”

“Blessed is the G-d of Shimon ben Shetach!” exclaimed the non-Jew (Devarim Rabba 3-3).

From one act alone, Shimon ben Shetach was able to show this non-Jew the greatness of Hashem.

We are still within the first year since the passing of my esteemed brother-in-law, Harav Efraim Kashash zt”l, rosh yeshiva of the Ateres Yisrael Yeshiva Ketana. He was beloved by his talmidim, both for his erudition and his exceptional concern for them, both spiritually and in all aspects of their lives. No matter what issue a bachur was facing, he knew that Rav Kashash would see it as his personal issue as well and do all he could to help, even years after he left the yeshiva.

Once, a bachur was making trouble for himself and others. Many efforts were made, but the situation was getting only worse, and a decision was made to expel him for several weeks. Rav Kashash instructed the bachur to pack up his belongings and be ready to leave the yeshiva in another hour. When the boy was standing at the door of the yeshiva, suitcase in hand, Rav Kashash went up to him.

“It’s cold outside, and you don’t have a sweater! I can’t let you leave the yeshiva in such weather without a sweater. Wait here just a moment.”

Rav Kashash went away and came back several minutes later with a sweater.

“Please, use this sweater as long as you need, and remember to take care of yourself.”

The bachur took the sweater and went home for several weeks, as per the rosh yeshiva’s order. Years later, he recalled how that sweater, and the rosh yeshiva’s concern for him, made an indelible impression and ultimately brought him to take himself and his Torah study seriously.

May we bring others closer to Hashem!