Ki Seitzei
The Midrash Tanchuma brings that in this parsha we learn about mitzvah goreres mitzvah and avaira goreres avaira. The beginning of the parsha teaches us about avaira goreres avaira: if a person takes a yefas to’ar he will end up hating her. Then he will have a ben sorer u’moreh who will do avairos and get killed. Afterwards, the pesukim teach us about mitzvah goreres mitzvah: if a person fulfills the mitzvah of shilu’ach hakane. Then he will be able to build a house and fulfill the mitzvah of building a fence. Then he will be zoche to have vineyards and fields and be able to fulfill the mitzvah of lo sizra kilayim. He will also have oxen and donkeys and will have the mitzvah of not plowing with them together. Then he will have nice clothes of wool and linen and he will have the mitzvah of lo silbash sha’atnez, as well as the mitzvah of tzitzis. Then he will be zoche to a wife and children.
What is the meaning of this, that a mitzvah or aveira leads to another mitzvah or aveira? Rabeinu Yona explains that when one does a mitzvah he comes close to Hashem and becomes accustomed to doing His avodah. It is then easier to do another mitzvah since it is more natural for him to do mitzvos. So too when a third mitzvah comes, even though it may be harder than the first two, he will be able to do it because he has “taken control” of his “doing mitzvos.” This will continue with fulfilling all the mitzvos. The same is true for aveiros. When a person does an aveira he removes himself from avodas Hashem. Since he has become cold in his avodas Hashem, when another aveira comes he will stumble, even though he doesn’t have such a desire for it. Rabeinu Yona says that Hashem sets the good and bad a person confronts and needs to choose from. If he chooses good, Hashem will be with that person and help him to do another mitzvah. If however, one chas v’shalom chooses bad, Hashem removes Himself and allows the person to follow his route.
May we all become accustomed to doing mitzvos and have Hashem’s help in fulfilling all the mitzvos!
