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Exit Exam Rebbetzin Shira Smiles
SMILES
Faculty, OU Israel Center
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Exit Exam
We get the questions to our final exam years before we need to take it; in fact, the entire exam only has a few questions! The first question each of us will be asked after 120 years is ‘nasata vnatata b’emunah’, did you conduct your business dealings faithfully? Were you honest in your business affairs?
Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter in Darash Dovid explains this question on a deeper level. Hashem asks each of us if we conducted our business with ‘emunah’, with the knowledge that Hashem is ultimately managing and directing all, with total faith of Hashem’s involvement in our life. He quotes the Siach Yitzchak who draws our attention to the same terminology of censure the Torah uses with regard to idolatry and unjust weights. One who uses false weights and measures in business is akin to one who serves idols, as he thinks the idols are the source of his success and not Hashem.
Parashat Behar begins with the mitzvot of shemittah and yovel, both of which teach us the foundations of emunah. Indeed, the Gemara (Shabbos 31a) identifies Seder Zeraim with the term “Emunah”, since one who has faith in Hashem will plant and know that Hashem will bring forth produce. When the Torah records Am Yisrael’s question, “what will we eat in the seventh year?” (Vayikra 25;20), explains Rav Schlesinger in Eleh Hadevarim, it refers to those who are not farmers! The reassurance given by Hashem underscores the role shemittah plays in instilling within us total dependence on our Creator. Hence, following the laws of shemittah we have the prohibition of deceiving others in business, as well as laws pertaining to taking interest when lending money. The juxtaposition of these laws reminds us that scrupulous business ethics are predicated on emunah.
Rav Schwadron in Lev Shalom offers a powerful mashal through a story. Many years ago, at the entrance to the main Yerushalayim Tel Aviv highway, stood Toma’le, who would direct traffic whenever the light turned green. He would wave his hands signaling cars
to move ahead or halt. Simple minded Toma’le genuinely believed that he was directing the flow of traffic each day. Likewise, notes Rav Schwadron, how many of us act like foolish Toma’le, thinking that we are the ones directing our business and our work. Indeed, we are not even in control of ourselves!
The Slonimer Rebbe in Netivot Shalom gives us a slightly different angle in understanding this final exam question. Did we investigate, give and take in the aspect of emunah itself? Is emunah something that we take seriously, and do we act on it to acknowledge that Hashem is guiding and administering our lives, individually and collectively? When we can answer in the affirmative, we will ace the exam.
