30 Sep ROSH HASHANAH: ASK FOR A LOT
During Aseres Yemei
Teshuvah, some
people ask for a drop
more money, or a little
bit more success, etc.
But we can ask for so
much more, and
Hashem will give it
to us. This is the time
when our tefillos are
answered. And as the
Aruch l’Ner writes,
our tefillos at this
time will certainly be
answered. Therefore,
why shouldn’t we
ask for a lot?
Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz zt’l told the
following story:
An enemy soldier aimed and shot his rifle
at Czar Nicolai. A soldier loyal to Nicolai
saw this and shouted loudly. Because of
the shout, Nicolai’s horse jumped. This
saved Nicolai’s life, as the bullet hit the
horse instead of Nicolai himself.
“You saved my life,” Nicolai said to the
soldier. “Your shouts caused the horse to
leap, and that saved me. How can I repay
you?”
The soldier replied, “I don’t get along
well with the commander of my unit. I
want to be moved to a different brigade.”
“No problem,” Nicolai said. “Your
request will be fulfilled. But you are a fool,
because you could have requested so much
more, and I would have given it to you.
You could have asked to be the general,
and I would have granted that to you.”
Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz zy’a taught
that people are just as foolish when they
ask for small things from Hashem. They
can ask for so much more, and Hashem
will grant it to them.
The Midrash tells a story that happened
when Alexander Mokdon came to Eretz
Yisrael. A Yid came forward, greeted
Alexander, and blessed him.
Alexander rewarded him with a city.
Alexander’s servants asked, “He is a poor
man. He would be satisfied with a smaller
present too. Why did you give him a city?”
Alexander replied, “When one gives a
present, it should be a present in the eyes
of the giver, and not according to the
perception of the receiver.”
The Lev Simchah zt’l repeated this
Midrash and explained that when Hashem
gives us presents, it should also be
according to how Hashem understands the
notion of a present.
As we say in Tefillas Tal (said on Pesach):
“Friend, according to Your assessments,
establish our name.” This means that
Hashem should give us kindness as He
understands kindness, for that will be a
much greater kindness than when it is
given according to our limited perception.