By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — Parashat Ki Tavo contains a list of blessings and curses. If the Israelites are faithful to the Covenant and obedient to God they will receive the blessings. If they turn away from God and don’t observe the mitzvot they will receive the curses instead.
In introducing the blessings Moses says, “Now, if you obey the Lord your God, to observe faithfully all His commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings shall come upon you and pursue you (uvau eilecha…v’hasigucha), if you will but heed the word of the Lord your God.” (Deut. 28:1-2)
I know many people who spend their lives searching for blessings. They hunt far and wide for joy, prosperity, and happiness. They believe that if they search long and hard enough, they will find the answer to their dreams and prayers.
But most of the time God’s blessings seem to run from those who pursue them. Perhaps it is because they are looking in the wrong place.
Rabbi Simcha Bunim told a story about Rabbi Isaac of Krakow. One night Rabbi Isaac dreamt about a treasure buried under a bridge in Prague. In his dream he traveled to Prague and found the treasure. The dream pursued him. Every night it came to him as bright as day.
One morning he decided to follow his dream. He had to know if it was true. He went to Prague and found the bridge. It appeared exactly as it had in his dream. He wanted to dig under one of its foundations and find the treasure, but it was heavily patrolled by soldiers, day and night.
For several days he observed the soldiers’ patrols and discovered a time in the middle of the night when he would be able to dig without being discovered. But when he began to dig, the Head of the Guards made an unscheduled appearance.
“What are you doing here and what are you looking for?” he demanded.
Rabbi Yitzchak was sure he would end up in jail, but he decided to tell the truth. He told the guard about his dream, and of how he was searching for treasure under the bridge.
To his surprise the guard began to laugh. “You are a very foolish man. Everyone has those kinds of dreams! I myself dreamt that if I went to the city of Krakow I would also find a treasure. I would find it if I dug under the stove of a Jew there named Rabbi Isaac. Isn’t that ridiculous. Do you think I would waste my time pursuing such a dream?”
Rabbi Isaac immediately understood the meanings of both dreams. He ran home as quickly as he could, dug under his stove and found the treasure. He became wealthy and was well-known for giving tzedakah to those who needed it. He also built a synagogue for his town.
Rabbi Simcha Bunim concludes his story by telling us, “There are some blessings that you can pursue but will never find, unless of course, you look for them in your own homes, lives, hearts, and souls.” (Al HaTorah)
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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. You may comment to him at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com