Parshas Behar 5776
QUESTION:
I was walking in the street and I almost got hit by a car, (or almost drowned), what should I do to thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu properly?
ANSWER:
Ish ki'matnas ya'do, each person according to his ability. One thing you're able to do, however, and that's for a very long time when you say modim anachnu Loch, don't just bow down for nothing, it's a pity, it's a waste of a glorious opportunity. Bowing down is a very important act, and not to utilize it is a rachomnus. It states when you come to bring the bikurim, vi'hish'tachaviso; bowing down is a purpose in itself, it's avodas Hashem to bow down. You have to think that you're doing it for a purpose, it's hakoras tov, modim...we're thanking You. And so, when a person barely escaped getting hit by a car, as long as he can, he should continue every time he bows down and he thinks about what could have happened, I thank You Hashem.
Now, that's not to be considered as lifnim mi'shuras hadin - it's for big tzadikim. After all, you can't play around with words, and the words modim anachnu Loch mean that. What are you thanking for?
And therefore, you should prepare yourself beforehand, hold your keys in your hand, hold a pencil in your hand, whatever it is, so that when you come to modim you should remember, modim anachnu Loch.
You went to the doctor and you were worried, and the doctor said, "I'm sorry to tell you there's nothing wrong with you." You walk out, don't forget that, Hashem says al tish'kocheini, don't forget Me, Hashem says, it's a pity. Therefore our reaction should be: we'll remember You Hashem.
Hashem Elokei li'olam o'deka, I'll remember You forever! Like Dovid said when he got well from his illness, l'maan yi'zarmecho kovod, I'll sing about Your glory - l'olam odeka.
Therefore, that's the first thing to do and the easiest thing to do. If you're able to do more than that, then certainly, ish k'matnas ya'do.
Good Shabbos To All
Thisl is transcribed from questions that were posed to Harav Miller by the audience at the Thursday night lectures.
To listen to the audio of this Q & A please dial: 201-676-3210
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Important Numbers
