(2003/5763)

In this week’s Parsha, the Torah writes, "...And you will be only on top and you will not be on the bottom..." (Devarim 28:13). What does this mean? If one is on top, then one is not on the bottom!   Rav Tzadok Hakohen of Lublin quotes Divrei Hayamim (1:4:10) which records a Tefila by Ya’avetz. In this Tefila he says, “If you will bless me and extend my borders…” What is Ya’avetz saying? Why does he ask for both a blessing and this extension?

Rav Tzadok Hakohen from Lublin answers that many people are blessed tremendously but do not know how to handle their blessings. For example, a person might be blessed with wealth. However, many do not know how to handle this wealth and it is used for violence and other inappropriate uses. Since they do not know how to handle this blessing it is no longer a blessing for them; it is actually a curse! This is what Ya’avetz meant. “If you should bless me, please also expand my personality so I can handle the blessing.” This is what our Pasuk,  “You will only be on top and not on the bottom,” means to tell us. Hashem says that He will not only bless us but he will give us the understanding to be able to use His blessings correctly and enjoy them to their fullest.