Ki Savo
The passuk states “Hashem will command for you the bracha, באסמיך.” What does this mean? The Gemara brings b’shem Rebi Yitzchak: bracha is only found by something which is hidden from the eye, as it states יצו ה’ אתך את הברכה באסמיך.” Rashi explains that bracha refers to that which is blessed and increases on its own, and באסמיך means סמוי, hidden from the eye. When your success is hidden from the eye, Hashem will send bracha to increase it. The Bal HaTurim says, the gematria of באסמיך is זהו סמוי, this is hidden; bracha is only found in something that is hidden from the eye.
The Gemara brings, the students of Rebi Yishmael teach differently: bracha is found only in something which the eye does not rule over, as it states, “יצו ה’ אתך את הברכה באסמיך.” Rashi explains באסמיך means in a storehouse. The Rashbam adds, your storehouses will be full of grain, wine, and oil, as it states וימלאו אסמיך שבע, and your storehouses will be filled up of satiation. Rashi says you don’t know the count of how many are there. The Maharsha explains, something which is placed inside a storage area is not seen by the eye, therefore bracha will be found there.
Says the Maharsha, both of these explanations agree that there is one point taught with two ways of darshening – how to explain it. A person should keep quiet and hide his success as it states באסמיך, which means hidden (blind) or a storehouse. The Maharsha also suggests, that the word “אתך, with you” is extra, to teach only something that is with you will be blessed, not something that others have control over it and are involved and aware of it.
Why is there bracha specifically by something that is hidden from eye, and not seen? The Maharsha answers based on the Gemara which brings; a person is not allowed to stand on his friend’s field at the time that his stalks of grain are standing tall in the field. Rashi explains the reason is so that the onlooker should not look at it and ruin it by giving it a bad eye (עין הרע). There is a concept called הזיק ראיה, damage cause by seeing, which refers to damage that is caused by one person seeing another person’s possessions. There are halachik ramifications based on הזיק ראיה as to how one is obligated to separate and block his property from another. Also, the Gemara brings: out of 100 people, 99 people die from a bad eye, and one dies the normal way. Says the Maharsha, one should keep his success hidden and covered up, so that someone else shouldn’t see and possibly have an evil eye which will affect and ruin the success.
Since the good midah is greater than the bad midah, we could extrapolate: if for a bad eye one can cause harm and damage, for a good eye one can cause increase and chizuk. By looking at someone in a nice way, he could cause positive influence and success. The Gemara brings you only give a כוס of bracha to a person with a good eye as it states, “טוב עין הוא יבורך, one with a good eye shall be blessed.” Do not read it יבורך, shall be blessed, rather יברך, he shall bless. The passuk ends “כי נתן מלחמו לדל, because he gave from his bread to the poor.” The Maharsha explains that לחם is good bread which is eaten by wealthy people, whereas the poor people generally eat course bread. Since this person gives out good bread, he should be the one who blesses others as well. A person with a good eye feels and cares about another person, and assists them.
Let us look at another person with a good eye and merit bracha from Hashem!
