Reply To: Short & Sweet

Shemos: Pick Your Struggle

We know that Shevet Levi were not forced into back-breaking slavery in Mitzrayim like the rest of the Shevatim. But this requires explanation; aren’t they also descendants of Avraham, who was told כי גר יהיה זרעך בארץ לא להם? Why were they let off the hook?

R’ Avigdor Nebanzhal addresses this question, based on the Zohar that writes on the words בחומר ובלבנים that Klal Yisroel could have accomplished their galus through קל וחומר וליבון הלכה, learning Torah. R’ Nebanzhal explains that anybody could have chosen to toil in Torah, and if they worked hard enough at it, that would have been sufficient. But only Shevet Levi got to that level of dedication and עמילות; all the other Shevatim had to do physical work to meet their quota.

Nobody came to this world to just sit around; we are here to work. But to some extent, we can pick what field we work in. The more effort we expend on meaningful religious pursuits, the less effort we will have to spend on meaningless toil.

לעילוי נשמת ר׳ חיים דוב בן ר׳ בןציון שלום