Parshas Re’eh: 5785

“Be careful that you should not bring up your Olah sacrifice at any place you see fit.” (Devarim 12:13)

The Torah warns us about bringing a korban outside of the Beis Hamikdash. In our parshah, we see this as a mitzvas aseh in pasuk 5 and a lo saaseh in pasuk 13. When the pasuk speaks about the aseh, it refers to all the korbanos. Yet when it mentions the lo saaseh, it only discusses a Korban Olah. Why? (Rabbi Yisrael Reisman, Shiurim on Chumash)

When I gave birth to my oldest child, I decided that no mother could ever be an apikores. How can you explain the concept of nurturing a human within your body only to give birth to a living, breathing being in his own right. The only way to understand it is to chalk it up to a Higher Power — Hashem.

But what I didn’t realize is that not only was I taking a huge leap in my emunah, I’d also just graduated to a greater level in my tevunah — my understanding.

The Netziv says that an Olah is a korban to request ruach hakodesh. The Tanchuma says that an Olah comes with deep feelings from the heart. It’s for this reason that an Olah isn’t eaten — it represents a higher level of avodas Hashem.

When asking for brachos from Hashem, we want to go to the source: Eretz Yisrael, Yerushalayim, in the Beis Hamikdash. That’s why korbanos could only be brought up in the Beis Hamikdash.

But why single out the Olah? We’re used to davening for all sorts of gashimiyus needs wherever we are. But to ask for spiritual needs, such as ruach hakodesh, we need to do it in the Beis Hamikdash. [Nowadays, we daven outside the Beis Hamikdash, but we still need to recognize the original Source.]

My mother is a very wise woman. Growing up, we knew that Mommy knew “things.” How? She must’ve gone to a great mommy school. But seriously, when you asked her what to do, she knew the right answer. When you wondered what those spots were on your right leg she had the answer.

My siblings and I would ask her to daven for us before any major life events, whether getting the major part in a play or acing a history test (with or without studying). My mother would always tell us she’s davening for what’s best for us, and she always was right.

In Selichos, we ask Hashem not to remove ruach hakodesh from us. Rav Moshe points out in the original pasuk in Tehillim (51:13), the request is in singular form, but in Selichos we ask in the plural. Does everyone have ruach hakodesh?

Rav Moshe says yes. Every Yid has a certain sense of ruach hakodesh — a connection to Hashem, and he has to use it. It’s a tool that many people aren’t aware that they have. But if you don’t use it, it atrophies. There’s a sense of holiness within every Yid. That’s what the Korban Olah was telling us. Don’t think you can ask for ruach hakodesh anywhere. Daven for it from the Source, and use it!

My mother’s example notwithstanding, I never thought of myself the same way until sometime in the middle of my child-rearing years, when I realized I, too, seemed to have all the answers. I’d tell my kids what the spots were on their left legs, and daven for them before play tryouts. It seemed I’d grown into my mother’s footsteps.

What a responsibility; and how had I gotten there?

I realized that most mothers are blessed with an added dose of ruach hakodesh. Call it intuition, call it perception; we’re worthy of this higher plane of understanding simply by trying to be a mother. There’s no other explanation. How do you take responsibility for another human’s life from months before he’s born, until the end of time?

It blows the mind. And it’s petrifying. Until you realize, Hashem has your back. He’s given you that added spark of Heavenly assistance making you and Him truly partners. Daven for it. Appreciate it. And use it, because Mommy is always right.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 957)