“You shall worship Hashem … and He shall bless your bread and your water, and I shall remove illness from your midst. There shall be no woman who loses her young or is infertile in your land … I shall fill the number of your days” (Shemos 23:25-26).
Rabbi Shimshon Chaim ben Rabbi Nachman Michoel Nachmani, the Zera Shimshon (1707-1779) was only blessed with one son, who passed on at a young age. Rabbi Shimshon Chaim let it be known that his sefarim on the Written and Oral Law, imparting unique insights and profound lessons to all of Klal Yisrael, were dedicated to carry on his legacy.
The Zera Shimshon identifies three brachot in these pasukim: children, life, and food. He notes that our sages qualify these as matters that are not determined by man’s merits, but rather by his mazal (fortune). Yet, that is difficult to reconcile with these pasukim, says the Zera Shimshon, which seem to imply otherwise.
Tosfos comments in Shabbos (156a) that although these three blessings are contingent upon one’s mazal, nevertheless it is possible to change the mazal with many merits. Nevertheless, says Rabbeinu, from the words of the pasuk, “You shall worship Hashem … and He shall bless…” it would seem that we are not speaking of the individual having extraordinary merits.
The Zera Shimshon elucidates that if we look closely at the words in the pasuk we see that there is no promise of an abundance of food or long years of life. Concerning the food, the pasuk tells us that Hashem “shall bless your bread and your water.” Whatever the person’s intended mazal – even if it’s merely bread and water – he will be satiated with the food that he has.
Similarly, one is not promised that he will live longer than the number of years that he was destined to live. Rather, one who worships Hashem will live out his days. This is as our sages say (Yevamos 49b-50a), “I will fulfill the number of your days – if he is deserving Hashem completes his allotted lifespan; if he is not deserving Hashem reduces his lifespan.” The Maharsha expounds that the person is deserving if he has a great merit, because then he can change his mazal for the good. However, explains the Zera Shimshon, the bracha brought in our pasuk can apply even to one is not deserving (because he does not have any great merit, and is therefore not worthy of being able to change his mazal), because he worships Hashem.
The Zera Shimshon then asks: If we are discussing an individual who did not do aveiros – he merely does not have any extraordinary merits – why would he need this bracha? Rabbeinu explains that this blessing may be necessary in a precarious situation, e.g. he is ill or finds himself in danger. In such circumstances, one who serves Hashem faithfully will merit Divine protection to live a “full life.”
With regard to the blessing of children, the Zera Shimshon points out that the pasuk states specifically that there be no miscarriages or infertility “in your land,” i.e. in Eretz Yisrael. The Talmud (Rosh Hashana 16b) states that it was the merit and holiness of Eretz Yisrael that helped Avraham Avinu become the father of a great nation. The Zera Shimshon expounds that living in Eretz Yisrael is specifically effective in having children. The Talmud (Kesubos 110b) states, “One who lives in Eretz Yisrael is considered as one who is strongly connected to the Divine Presence.” Thus, this person will have the special blessing of children, because they will continue to cause the Divine Presence to dwell on the Land.
A man, whom I didn’t know personally, called to make an appointment to discuss a problem he was having at home.
When we met, he related that his marriage had been troubled for a long time. The couple simply did not agree on many issues and were constantly arguing. Admittedly, they both agreed they were hurting, but they had long forgotten what a healthy husband-wife relationship looked like. The couple were now considering separating for a while, and he had been referred to me to ask my advice.
After speaking with him at length, I could not shake the feeling that – despite the fact that their relationship had sunk to a very low point – there was definitely room for hope.
I advanced some simple suggestions that could perhaps help in the readjustment process, when I was suddenly struck with a strange thought. How about invoking the promise of the Zera Shimshon?!
I told the man about Rabbi Shimshon Chaim, about his sefarim, and the remarkable promise he had made to those who study his Torah. I shared with him some accounts of people who had been helped in the zechus of learning the Zera Shimshon.
“How about participating in the daily shiur?” I asked him.
“Honestly,” he replied, “I would be happy to contribute to tzedakah, but learning is just not my thing. Besides, I don’t see how that would help.”
I gently explained to him that spirituality and inspiration are keys to a happy and successful life, and we don’t always understand the mystical powers that exist in the world.
The man remained unconvinced.
Finally, I suggested that he make only a 40-day commitment to participate in the shiur. If it impacted him in any way that would be great; if not, he would move on. It took some coaxing, but the man finally shrugged his shoulders in resignation and pledged to call in daily for the shiur.
I didn’t hear from him for a few weeks. However, one evening, after a shiur that referred to the words in the Eishes Chayil, the man called.
“There was something about your shiur today that just struck a responsive chord. I began to think about my own eishes chayil, and was overwhelmed with a recognition of many of her wonderful qualities that had become buried because of our quarreling. All the hours spent bickering had overshadowed her virtues. I continued to contemplate this phenomenal change in my thought processes for a long while and felt compelled to let you know about this development. I must analyze this further.”
That shiur marked a turning point in his life and their marriage. After the 40th day, the man called back again to thank me for persuading him to join the Zera Shimshon shiur. Not only was he committed to the shiur, he was also committed to his marriage, and he wanted to dedicate a shiur in honor of his wife.
Rabbi Goldwasser is currently completing a new anthology of the divrei Torah of the Zera Shimshon, entitled: The Zera Shimshon on Galus and Geulah. The book contains a compilation of the Zera Shimshon’s Torah thoughts specifically on the topic of exile and redemption, and each chapter includes soul-stirring stories and insights. In the preface to his writings, the Zera Shimshon beseeches people to study his books and he promises that those who do so will be granted family, life, wealth and honor in that merit.
Dedication opportunities for the sefer are currently available for those seeking a zechus and bracha – whether for shidduchim, refuah, parnassah, children, shalom bayis, etc. Monies can be Zelled to 718-954-4343, or sent by mail to Rabbi Goldwasser, 1336 E. 21 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210.
